Maple Leaf Foods Inc. Listeria Outbreak Class Action

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (“Maple Leaf”) is one of Canada’s oldest and largest food processing companies. The Company has operations across Canada, in the United States, Europe and Asia. Products are sold through supermarkets, food service distributors and other retail and wholesale outlets.

On August 23, 2008 the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency received laboratory results from Health Canada that establish a link between meat products recalled by Maple Leaf Foods from their plant in Toronto and an outbreak of listeriosis in several provinces.

A recall of tainted Listeria infected Maple Leaf products, which originally involved 23 different meat products, now involves some 220 products.
(See below for a list of all recalled products)

Eating foods spoiled with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes can result in serious illness, including brain and blood infections and in extreme cases, death. As of August 26th there were 29 confirmed cases of listeriosis across Canada and at least 6 deaths, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

There are several serious distinct clinical syndromes associated with Listeria infections.

Infection in pregnancy: Symptoms include fever, myalgias, arthralgias and headache. Abortion, stillbirth and preterm labor are complications of this infection.

Central nervous system infections: Listeria has a predilection for the brain parenchyma, especially the brain stem, and the meninges. It can cause cranial nerve palsies, encephalitis, meningitis, meningoencephalitis and abscesses. Mental status changes are common. Seizures occur in at least 25% of patients.

Gastroenteritis: can produce food-borne diarrheal disease, which typically is noninvasive. The median incubation period is 21 days, with diarrhea lasting anywhere from 1–3 days. Patients present with fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal nausea or diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions.

It is important to note that Listeria infections can take up to 70 days to incubate. If you have any of the above symptoms please consult a physician immediately.

As of Aug. 27th 2008 Docken and Company has filled a Class Action lawsuit against Maple Leaf in relation to the Listeria outbreak. If you feel that the Tainted Meat may have infected you please sign up for our class action using our simple "Do I Have a Case?" sign up form .

NEWS HEADLINES Docken Files Listeria Class Action against Maple Leaf Meats Inc. Alberta members of class action file with Docken (8/27/2008)

Maple Leaf Foods Recalls Foods in Listeria Outbreak (as of August 27/2008) Link to Maple Leaf Foods Reclamation Form (Jan 30, 2009) Link to Maple Leaf Foods Claim Form (Jan. 30, 2009)