Recent documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request have shed light on significant infractions found at a beverage production facility linked to a deadly listeria outbreak. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conducted an inspection of the Joriki facility in Pickering, Ontario, which packages various plant-based milks under the Silk and Great Value brands. This facility was implicated in a serious outbreak that resulted in 20 reported illnesses, 15 hospitalisations, and three fatalities.
Uncovering the Inspection Findings
The CFIA’s inspection, carried out between June 26 and August 22, 2024, revealed alarming conditions within the Joriki plant. Among the infractions noted were condensation on ceilings and peeling paint in the pasteurisation areas, both of which can create an environment conducive to the growth of listeria bacteria. These findings raise critical concerns about the facility’s adherence to food safety protocols.
Experts, including Lawrence Goodridge, a food safety professor at the University of Guelph, have expressed that these issues should have prompted more immediate action from health officials. “The CFIA should have been inspecting this plant at a much higher frequency,” he stated. Goodridge firmly believes that the outbreak could have been prevented with more stringent oversight.
The CFIA’s Response and the Company’s Stance
In light of the criticisms directed at the CFIA for not identifying these issues sooner, the agency has maintained that the primary responsibility for food safety lies with the business itself. They emphasised that the CFIA is tasked with conducting risk-based inspections rather than micromanaging food production.
In 2021, Joriki was classified as a low-risk facility according to a model that the CFIA is currently revising to better account for potential food safety threats. Following the outbreak, the CFIA acknowledged the need for enhanced oversight of emerging product categories, including plant-based beverages.
Danone Canada, which markets Silk products, declined to comment on the situation due to ongoing legal proceedings. The company, along with Walmart Canada and Intact Insurance, settled a class action lawsuit for $6.5 million with consumers affected by the contaminated products.
Systemic Failures in Food Safety Protocols
The reports from the CFIA inspection indicate a lack of basic food safety measures at the Joriki facility. Notably, the absence of a robust sanitation program and environmental monitoring for listeria raises serious concerns. Professor Claudia Narvaez-Bravo, an expert in food safety at the University of Manitoba, highlighted that listeria should always be a consideration in ready-to-eat products. The inspection report noted that Joriki “does not list listeria as a hazard,” a glaring omission that signals a fundamental failure in their safety protocols.
Microbiologist Lori Burrows of McMaster University also pointed out that the combination of peeling paint and condensation in the facility posed a serious risk for contamination, allowing listeria to thrive. “It’s like the difference between wiping your counter and wiping your lawn,” she explained, underscoring the inadequacy of the cleaning practices observed at the plant.
Delays in Response and Ongoing Concerns
The timeline of events surrounding the outbreak reveals a troubling lack of urgency. The first report of listeria in a sample of Silk unsweetened coconut milk was made on June 20, 2024, yet the CFIA did not conduct its inspection until six days later, and it took until July 8 to issue a recall. While the agency stated that further evidence was needed to confirm the link between the illnesses and the plant, experts have questioned why action wasn’t taken sooner given the visible health risks.
At a press conference in October 2024, then-Federal Health Minister Mark Holland confirmed that the CFIA had found Joriki in violation of Health Canada’s listeria prevention policies. The facility was subsequently given a deadline to rectify the issues, but operations were permanently ceased by the end of 2024.
In the wake of the outbreak, the CFIA’s inspector general conducted a review of plant-based operations in Canada and discovered that nearly half of the 54 such facilities had never been inspected. The agency has since committed to improving its inspection processes and addressing the identified gaps in oversight.
Why it Matters
This incident not only underscores critical failures in food safety management at the Joriki facility but also raises broader questions about the regulatory framework governing plant-based food production in Canada. As consumer demand for these products grows, ensuring stringent safety standards is paramount. The CFIA’s commitment to revising its inspection protocols is a step in the right direction, yet it must be accompanied by a cultural shift within the industry to prioritise consumer safety over profit. The tragic outcomes of this outbreak serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust food safety practices to protect public health.
