The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a Class 1 recall, its highest risk category, for 12 cheese products sold under the Farm Boy, L’Ancêtre and Life Smart brands due to possible listeria contamination. The recall was announced Wednesday, and the CFIA says its food safety investigation is ongoing and could expand to include additional products.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled cheeses so far, though health experts note that symptoms of listeriosis can take time to appear after contaminated food is consumed.
Health Risks and Who Is Vulnerable
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist, said the greater concern with listeria lies with vulnerable populations. He explained that the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause serious infections such as meningitis in certain groups, while most other people may only experience a short-lived bout of diarrhea.
Symptoms of listeriosis can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. The CFIA says infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, but the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or stillbirth. Bogoch noted that pregnant women are generally advised to avoid certain foods, including cold cuts, which are a known common source of listeria contamination. In severe cases, listeriosis can be fatal.
What Consumers Are Being Told to Do
Jeff Farber, director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety, advised consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products. He said any affected cheese should be thrown out and that refrigerators should be disinfected, since the bacteria can spread to other surfaces and foods. Farber also recommended that households with high-risk individuals ensure those people take extra precautions. Customers can return the recalled cheese to the store of purchase for a refund.
A Recurring Food Safety Issue
Farber said recalls linked to listeria are not uncommon because the bacteria is widespread and can survive in cold temperatures, making it especially persistent in food processing plants, where it can thrive in cool, damp conditions and hide within equipment.
Canada has experienced serious listeria outbreaks in the past. In 2008, 22 people died after eating deli meat contaminated with listeria that was produced by Maple Leaf Foods, an event that led to stricter food safety inspection requirements. More recently, in 2024, three people died after consuming Silk and Great Value plant-based milk products linked to listeria contamination.
Farber said that while inspection and detection practices have improved since past outbreaks, more could still be done, pointing to a need for processing plants to maintain proper environmental monitoring programs that can detect listeria before it contaminates finished products.
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