Sherwood Park plant finds bacteria

Last week, Hygaard Fine Foods recalled 16 of its 20 sandwich and burger products made in its Sherwood Park plant, due to concerns that they may have been exposed to listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes listeriosis.

A listeriosis outbreak caused by contamination at a Maple Leaf plant in Toronto that so far has resulted in 19 deaths in Canada, including one in Alberta, has created widespread concern regarding the illness. 

“There has been so much coverage that necessarily this is taken very seriously, hence this precautionary recall,” said Alain Charette, spokesperson for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). “The difference here is they have taken a precautionary route, (they said) since we have found the organism it’s enough for us to take no chance and recall the product.”

Though this strain is not linked to that of the Maple Leaf incident, the company decided to implement what they call a “proactive and precautionary” recall. So far, the bacteria has not been found in any food from the Hygaard plant. 

The listeria was found when employees disassembled the plant’s equipment to clean it, part of a new protocol set out by the CFIA. “During quality assurance checks made by the company, through some swabbing they found some listeria microorganisms in the environment of the plant,” Charette said. “For that reason they decided to take no chance.” 

The action was voluntarily taken by the company, Charette said, though most recalls are. “In fact we had only  seven mandatory recalls in CFIA’s history of ten years,” he said. “Food producers usually know what to do when something’s wrong with their product.” The recall this summer by Maple Leaf was voluntary as well, he said.

Listeria based recalls are not uncommon, but were rarely worth noting until the Maple Leaf outbreak. “Over the last five years we’ve had from zero to seven recalls for listeria per year, they just did not grab as much attention,” Charette said, adding now listeria is on everyone’s radar. “For obvious reasons – because there are a number of people deceased from that event.”

Hygaard food products are sold mainly in convenience stores across Canada, except for Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. 

Bert Journault, owner of the Esso station at Connaught Dr. and Hazel Ave., which carries Hygaard products, said a representative from the sandwich company visited the store the morning of Sept. 26 to check for recalled items, though none were present.

Refrigerator-stable sandwiches, subs and burgers like those made by Hygaard are very popular because of the advantages they offer. “The convenience, plus knowing it’s okay,” Journault said. “It’s becoming a lifestyle.”

Journault said he has been following the listeriosis coverage closely, because of his business, and finds the news troubling. “I’m concerned that listeria shows up in two different machines at different ends of the country,” he said. “I think the health authorities have a big project on their hands.”

Hygaard has a solid reputation, Journault said, noting that acting quickly is less of a tactic than a necessity. “I think we’ve learned in the last 20 years, you have to be proactive to survive, the public will crush you if you’re not,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean the source of listeria is covered. It’s great to be proactive, but where is this coming from?”

John Beliveau, executive vice president and general manager, said as a company Hygaard decided to react responsibly and quickly. “In light of the sensitivity of everything going on in the food chain with Maple Leaf we decided to take a very proactive approach to this and take the steps that we have taken,” Beliveau said. 

Charette said the CFIA is pleased with Hygaard’s prompt action in announcing the recall. “It’s not a legal requirement on their part,” he said. “To us, they are basically doing the right thing and doing it quickly.”