Newly released inspection documents suggest a beverage production facility connected to a deadly listeria outbreak in Canada had multiple sanitation and safety deficiencies that experts say may have allowed contamination to spread. The records, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, provide new insight into conditions at a Pickering, Ontario plant that packaged plant-based milk products later recalled nationwide.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the facility operated by Joriki produced several soy, almond, and coconut milk beverages sold under the Silk and Great Value labels. The outbreak linked to the products resulted in 20 reported illnesses, 15 hospitalizations, and three deaths, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The production line involved in the recall was shut down shortly after contamination concerns were confirmed and never reopened.
Inspection notes identified several sanitation issues at the facility between late June and late August 2024, including condensation in pasteurization areas and peeling floor paint. Food safety specialists say these conditions can create environments where listeria bacteria may survive and spread more easily. Experts also pointed to waste accumulation in loading areas as a potential risk factor for pests carrying contaminants into production zones.
Additional concerns were raised after inspectors reported that listeria was not listed as a hazard in the plant’s control planning documentation and that finished products were not consistently tested for the bacteria. Specialists in food safety described these omissions as serious shortcomings in basic contamination prevention procedures typically expected in facilities producing ready-to-drink beverages.
The timeline of regulatory response has also drawn scrutiny. Public health officials identified links between illness cases and the facility in June 2024, but the official recall notice was issued in early July after laboratory confirmation established the connection. Some researchers have questioned whether earlier intervention could have reduced the number of illnesses associated with the outbreak.
Following the incident, federal officials confirmed that Joriki was not fully complying with Health Canada’s listeria prevention policies. The company later ceased operations by the end of 2024. In response to the outbreak, the CFIA launched a broader review of plant-based food manufacturing oversight across the country and committed to expanding inspections of thousands of licensed food production facilities by fall 2026 in an effort to strengthen safety monitoring in emerging product categories.
