CFIA told to warn public about tainted meat days before advisory

[CHIMO]

Toronto health officials told Canada's food inspection agency to warn the public several days before it announced a link between Maple Leaf deli meats and a deadly nationwide listeriosis outbreak, CBC News has learned.

Toronto Public Health employees investigating suspected listeriosis cases had gathered enough evidence by Aug. 14 to make a connection between Maple Leaf Foods deli products and the illnesses, the department's associate medical officer of health told the CBC and the Toronto Star this week.

"It seemed that there was a connection between Maple Leaf deli meat and illness," said Dr. Vinita Dubey.

In a conference call with members of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Aug. 14, Toronto officials told the agency they had enough evidence to make a connection and pressed the CFIA to warn the public about Maple Leaf products.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/10/08/mapleleaf-warning.html