Canada company takes blame for bacteria outbreak

TORONTO

Wednesday, 27 August 2008 20:13:04

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The president of a Canadian food company is taking responsibility for tainted meat products from a Toronto processing plant reaching the marketplace and causing a national outbreak of a deadly bacteria linked to the deaths of 15 people.

Michael McCain says Maple Leaf Foods failed to produce safe products and it is up to the company and not the government to remedy the crisis. He spoke Wednesday after test results linked the illness outbreak to the company's ready-to-eat meat tainted with Listeria bacteria.

Listeriosis is a type of food poisoning that can be dangerous to people with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include fever, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.