Canadian Watchdog Criticizes Joriki Co-Manufacturer Over Listeria Outbreak Protocols
Source: DairyNews.today
Canada’s food safety regulator, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), has rebuked Joriki, a co-manufacturer of plant-based milks for brands such as Danone’s Silk and Walmart’s Great Value, following an investigation into a listeria outbreak. The CFIA determined that Joriki failed to adequately implement environmental swabbing and finished product testing, essential measures for preventing listeria contamination.
The CFIA’s inquiry, initiated in June after a listeriosis outbreak in Ontario, identified listeria monocytogenes in a sample of Silk unsweetened coconut milk. Subsequently, in July, the CFIA confirmed cases of listeria in other plant-based milk products, resulting in a recall of 15 Silk items—covering almond, coconut, and oat-based milks—as well as three Great Value almond-based products.
Although CFIA could not pinpoint a primary contamination source, it suggested that cross-contamination may have occurred after processing, which is not uncommon with pasteurized products. The findings underscore the importance of rigorous safety protocols in preventing listeria risks in the plant-based dairy sector.
Although CFIA could not pinpoint a primary contamination source, it suggested that cross-contamination may have occurred after processing, which is not uncommon with pasteurized products. The findings underscore the importance of rigorous safety protocols in preventing listeria risks in the plant-based dairy sector.
