Maple Leaf Foods recalls wieners after shipping error at Hamilton plant
The recall involves more than 1,000 cases of Shopsy's and Maple Leaf brand wieners that were accidentally distributed.
TORONTO · Maple Leaf Foods has issued a voluntary recall for over a thousand cases of wieners after they were distributed in error. The recall, announced Tuesday, covers Shopsy’s Deli Fresh All Beef Frankfurters and Maple Leaf Hot Dogs Original. The company stated the products present a minimal health risk and no related illnesses have been reported. This action follows the accidental shipment of the items from a plant in Hamilton, Ont., while they were under quarantine for enhanced listeria testing.
The affected Shopsy’s product has the code 20730 and UPC 6487520730, with best before dates of April 22 and 23. The Maple Leaf product is identified by code 22356 and UPC 6310022356, with a best before date of April 23. The company implemented the stricter testing protocols after a deadly listeriosis outbreak last year linked to its Toronto facility. The new recall was disclosed on the same day Maple Leaf reported a fourth quarter loss of $14.6 million, which it tied to costs from the 2008 meat recall. "Unlike other situations, this event occurred as a direct result of human error and did not uphold our stringent industry leading protocols," said Michael McCain, the company’s president and CEO. He added in the release that the risk is exceptionally low but the company is committed to its standards. "We intend to live by those standards so consumers can have absolute confidence in the integrity of our products," McCain said.
The previous listeria outbreak, which began with a recall on Aug. 17, 2008, resulted in 20 deaths. Investigators traced the source of that contamination to parts deep inside two slicing machines at the Toronto plant. McCain estimated the before tax cost of that massive recall, the largest in company history, was between $40 million and $50 million. The incident led to the new food safety standards that were in place when the recent shipping error occurred. Customers who bought the recalled wieners can contact Maple Leaf at 1 800 568 5801. The company said it will provide a refund or replacement for the returned products.
With files from National Post
Grant Whitfield covers product recalls, prices and consumer rights for Novello Desserts.