Two people are dead in an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has now spread beyond the borders of Ontario, according to information just released by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

At latest count, the PHAC has confirmed 12 cases of Listeria monocytogenes in three provinces: Ontario (10), Québec (1), and Nova Scotia (1). Nine of the 12 outbreak patients have been hospitalized.

The outbreak has been linked to plant-based refrigerated beverages.

Danone has recalled 18 products, marketed under the Silk and Great Value brand names. All of the recalled products bear a product code that includes “7825.”

List of recalled products

Product	Size	UPC	Best before dates
Great Value Almond Beverage Unsweetened Original	1.89L	6 81131 34208 7	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Great Value Almond Beverage Original	1.89L	6 81131 34209 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Great Value Almond Beverage Vanilla	1.89L	6 81131 34210 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Coconut Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00250 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Original	1.89L	0 25293 00100 8	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Dark Chocolate	1.89L	0 25293 00135 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00150 3	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Unsweetened Vanilla	1.89L	0 25293 00188 6	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Vanilla	1.89L	0 25293 00168 8	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Coconut Original	1.89L	0 25293 00152 7	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Coconut Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00244 9	Up to and including 24 SE 27
Silk Oat Original	1.75L	0 36632 07240 5	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Vanilla	1.75L	0 36632 07241 2	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Dark Chocolate	1.75L	0 36632 07239 9	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Unsweetened	1.75L	0 36632 07532 1	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Unsweetened Vanilla	1.75L	0 56800 72749 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Cashew Unsweetened	1.75L	0 36632 07235 1	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Cashew Unsweetened Vanilla	1.75L	0 36632 07234 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04

The recalled products were manufactured for Danone Canada by a third party located in Ontario and distributed across Canada.

Danone has halted all production and shipments coming from this facility until further notice, pending completion of the investigation.

What consumers need to know

The PHAC has provided the following information and advice for Canadian consumers.

• Check to see if you have recalled products in your homes or establishment by looking for the specific product name and size, UPC and codes in the recall alert.
• Do not consume, serve, use, sell or distribute recalled products or any product made with them.
• Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the recalled products are advised to contact their retailer.
• Do not cook food for other people if you’ve been diagnosed with a Listeria infection or any other gastrointestinal illness.
• Contact your health care provider if you think you’re experiencing symptoms of Listeria infection.

Those who are most at risk of becoming sick with severe listeriosis include:

• People with weakened immune systems (unable to fight diseases easily).
• Adults over the age of 60. The risk increases with age due to a weakening immune system.
• People who are pregnant, including their unborn or newborn baby.

Symptoms of listeriosis can start as early as 3 days after eating contaminated food, and may include:

• fever
• nausea
• cramps
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• headache
• constipation
• muscle aches

In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and nerves). Symptoms of severe listeriosis include:

• stiff neck
• confusion
• headache
• loss of balance

Symptoms of severe listeriosis may appear up to 70 days after an individual has been exposed to Listeria.

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Nine confirmed cases of Listeria monocytogenes in Ontario, Canada, have been linked to consumption of Silk brand plant-based beverages, according to a statement released today by the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Five of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized.

As of this writing, the Public Health Agency of Canada has not posted an outbreak investigation notice on its website, nor has it responded to our request for information.

Danone has recalled 18 products, marketed under the Silk and Great Value brand names. All of the recalled products bear a product code that includes “7825.”

List of recalled products

Product	Size	UPC	Best before dates
Great Value Almond Beverage Unsweetened Original	1.89L	6 81131 34208 7	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Great Value Almond Beverage Original	1.89L	6 81131 34209 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Great Value Almond Beverage Vanilla	1.89L	6 81131 34210 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Coconut Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00250 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Original	1.89L	0 25293 00100 8	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Dark Chocolate	1.89L	0 25293 00135 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00150 3	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Unsweetened Vanilla	1.89L	0 25293 00188 6	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Vanilla	1.89L	0 25293 00168 8	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Coconut Original	1.89L	0 25293 00152 7	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Coconut Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00244 9	Up to and including 24 SE 27
Silk Oat Original	1.75L	0 36632 07240 5	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Vanilla	1.75L	0 36632 07241 2	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Dark Chocolate	1.75L	0 36632 07239 9	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Unsweetened	1.75L	0 36632 07532 1	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Unsweetened Vanilla	1.75L	0 56800 72749 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Cashew Unsweetened	1.75L	0 36632 07235 1	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Cashew Unsweetened Vanilla	1.75L	0 36632 07234 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04

The recalled products were manufactured for Danone Canada by a third party located in Ontario and distributed nationwide.

Danone has halted all production and shipments coming from this facility until further notice, pending completion of the investigation.

What consumers need to know

The CFIA has provided the following information and advice for consumers.

• If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider
• Check to see if you have recalled products
• Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products
• Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

---

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.

An outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in Canada has been linked to consumption of Silk brand plant-based beverages, according to a report from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

In a recall notice dated July 8, 2024, the CFIA revealed that there had been reported illnesses associated with the products. However, no details were supplied regarding the size or geographic scope of the outbreak.

Danone Canada has acknowledged “several cases” of potential contamination, and has issued its own news release advising consumers of the recall.

As of this writing, the Public Health Agency of Canada has not posted an outbreak investigation notice on its website, nor has it responded to our request for information.

Danone has recalled 18 products, marketed under the Silk and Great Value brand names. All of the recalled products bear a product code that includes “7825.”

List of recalled products

Product	Size	UPC	Best before dates
Great Value Almond Beverage Unsweetened Original	1.89L	6 81131 34208 7	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Great Value Almond Beverage Original	1.89L	6 81131 34209 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Great Value Almond Beverage Vanilla	1.89L	6 81131 34210 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Coconut Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00250 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Original	1.89L	0 25293 00100 8	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Dark Chocolate	1.89L	0 25293 00135 0	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00150 3	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Unsweetened Vanilla	1.89L	0 25293 00188 6	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond Vanilla	1.89L	0 25293 00168 8	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Coconut Original	1.89L	0 25293 00152 7	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Coconut Unsweetened	1.89L	0 25293 00244 9	Up to and including 24 SE 27
Silk Oat Original	1.75L	0 36632 07240 5	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Vanilla	1.75L	0 36632 07241 2	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Dark Chocolate	1.75L	0 36632 07239 9	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Unsweetened	1.75L	0 36632 07532 1	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Oat Unsweetened Vanilla	1.75L	0 56800 72749 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Cashew Unsweetened	1.75L	0 36632 07235 1	Up to and including 24 OC 04
Silk Almond & Cashew Unsweetened Vanilla	1.75L	0 36632 07234 4	Up to and including 24 OC 04

The recalled products were manufactured for Danone Canada by a third party located in Ontario and distributed nationwide.

Danone has halted all production and shipments coming from this facility until further notice, pending completion of the investigation.

What consumers need to know

The CFIA has provided the following information and advice for consumers.

• If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider
• Check to see if you have recalled products
• Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products
• Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

---

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.