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Public health officials have told a meat company that has made two recalls of listeria-contaminated meat to shut down all production of ready-to-eat products.
Further testing of ready-to-eat meat and swabs from the Leonard's Superior Smallgoods factory showed they were still contaminated with listeria, Auckland Regional Public Health Service clinical director Julia Peters said yesterday.
The latest contaminated product had not been sent for sale, and Leonard's had ceased production of these products and agreed to clean and disinfect, she said.
"We isolate and withdraw from trade any contaminated product batches and precautions are taken to ensure potentially affected product is not distributed," Dr Peters said.
The investigation would continue until the public health service, the Food Safety Authority and Leonard's understood the causes of the contamination and procedures were in place to minimise the risk of future contamination.
When the factory had been cleared, production of ready-to-eat foods could restart but would still be tested before being sold.
The bacteria survive freezing for long periods and in foods with up to 20 per cent salt.
Listeriosis can cause septicaemia, meningitis, encephalitis, and intrauterine or cervical infections in pregnant women, which may result in spontaneous abortion or stillbirth. The mortality rate is 20 to 30 per cent.
Leonard's recalled contaminated roast beef found at Waikato Hospital last week and this week issued a second recall after listeria was found in corned silverside.
Before the latest test results, Leonard's manager and co-owner Richard Kornman said poor hygiene by a staff member might have been the problem.
- NZPA
