Listeria monocytogenes (commonly called Listeria) is a type of bacterium often found in food and elsewhere in nature. It can cause a rare but serious disease called listeriosis, especially among pregnant women, the elderly or individuals with a weakened immune system. In serious cases it can lead to brain infection and even death.

Read more

Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
Food Safety Facts on Listeria

Health Canada:
Listeria and Food Safety

• »
  April 13, 2010
  Update to 2008 Listeria Monocytogenes Case Numbers
• »
  September 30, 2009
  Listeria Monocytogenes Cases in Several Provinces
• »
  September 21, 2009
  Listeria Monocytogenes Cases in Several Provinces
• »
  July 21, 2009
  Listeriosis Investigative Review
• »
  April 17, 2009
  Lessons Learned: Public Health Agency of Canada's Response to the 2008 Listeriosis Outbreak
• »
  January 20, 2009
  Independent Investigator into the August 2008 listeriosis outbreak appointed

More on Listeria

Salmonella bacteria are found naturally in the intestines of animals, (especially poultry and swine), birds, reptiles, some pets and some humans. The bacteria can also be found in the environment. People who eat food contaminated by Salmonella can become ill with salmonellosis.

Read more

Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
Salmonella Food Safety Facts

Health Canada:
Salmonella Prevention

• »
  September 30, 2010
  Public Advisory: Illness linked to frozen rodents used as pet food
• »
  August 21, 2009
  Salmonella Cubana Outbreak
• »
  January 20, 2009
  Salmonella Outbreak in U.S.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (called E. coli in this paragraph)bacteria are found naturally in the intestines of cattle, poultry and other animals. If people become infected with these bacteria, the infection can result in serious illness. Several other types of E. coli can also infect people and cause illness.
Read more

• »
  June 7, 2011
  Frequently Asked Questions – E. coli outbreak in Germany
  

Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) is a bacteria that exists commonly in nature. Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by botulinum toxin, a nerve poison that can be produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. In children, this is called infantile botulism. The toxin produced by C. botulinum is a nerve poison that can cause paralysis.
Read more

Shigella bacteria are found naturally in the intestinal tracts of humans and other primates. People who eat food or drink water contaminated by Shigella can become ill with shigellosis.
Read more

The Public Health Agency of Canada conducts outbreak surveillance and epidemiology and provides advice to protect people’s health.

Health Canada develops food safety standards and policies to help minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency carries out inspection of the food industry to ensure that it meets its food safety responsibilities.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Health Canada work with public health officials, and provincial ministries of health to confirm the source of the food-related illnesses when an outbreak is suspected. When cases occur in multiple provinces, federal officials lead the epidemiological investigation. In addition, they provide reference laboratory services, conduct food safety investigations and recall actions.

Health Canada also briefs the medical community, public health officials, the food industry and the public on matters related to the food illnesses where appropriate. As a founding member of the Canadian Partners for Consumer Food Safety Education, Health Canada also participates in public awareness campaigns about safe food practices.

The federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) government departments and agencies responsible for public health and food safety have updated the Foodborne Illness Outbreak Response Protocol (FIORP) 2010.  FIORP 2010 will allow public health and food safety authorities across Canada to respond faster, more efficiently and more effectively to national and international outbreaks. 

FIORP 2010 is the technical and operational protocol that guides how FPT public health and food safety authorities manage national or international food-borne illness outbreaks. A national outbreak is one that spans more than one province or territory. An international outbreak is one that spans more than one country, including Canada.

Following the national listeriosis outbreak of 2008, the FPT governments reviewed the protocol to build on lessons learned and further improve how outbreaks are responded to and managed in Canada.