Economic Cost of aListeria monocytogenesOutbreak in Canada, 2008

Abstract

Estimates of the economic costs associated with foodborne disease are important to inform public health decision-making. In 2008, 57 cases of listeriosis and 24 deaths in Canada were linked to contaminated delicatessen meat from one meat processing plant. Costs associated with the cases (including medical costs, nonmedical costs, and productivity losses) and those incurred by the implicated plant and federal agencies responding to the outbreak were estimated to be nearly $242 million Canadian dollars (CAD, 2008). Case costs alone were estimated at approximately $2.8 million (CAD, 2008) including loss of life. This demonstrates the considerable economic burden at both the individual and population levels associated with foodborne disease and foodborne outbreaks in particular. Foodborne outbreaks due to severe pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes and those that result in product recalls, are typically the most costly from the individual and/or societal perspective. Additional economic estimates of foodborne disease would contribute to our understanding of the burden of foodborne disease in Canada and would support the need for ongoing prevention and control activities.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes Isolates in Raw Milk, Heated Milk and Nunu, a Spontaneously Fermented Milk Beverage, in Ghana

“…Listeria monocytogenes is a gram positive, facultative intracellular food-borne pathogen that can cause listeriosis in humans, especially in people of compromised immunity, including the elderly, pregnant women and newborns [1,2]. The bacterium is widespread in nature and can survive and grow under low temperatures and pH, high concentrations of salt or bile, oxidative stress, carbon starvation, and other adverse conditions making it a potential hazard in foods [3].…”

Selection and characterization of broad‐spectrum antibacterial substance‐producing Lactobacillus curvatus PA40 as a potential probiotic for feed additives

“…B. cereus produces diarrheal and emetic toxins (Granum & Lund, ) and is genetically closely related to B. anthracis (Ash, Farrow, Dorsch, Stackebrandt, & Collins, ). Listeriosis is caused by L. monocytogenes and is often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms (Thomas et al., ). Salmonellosis is a common gastrointestinal disease, and septicemia and abortion in humans and animals are caused by infection with Salmonella species, including S. enterica Enteritidis and S. enterica Typhimurium (Sherman, ; Taylor, Latham, & Woolhouse, ).…”

Listeria Occurrence and Potential Control Strategies in Alternative and Conventional Poultry Processing and Retail

“…Contamination of these types of foods can lead to major outbreaks of listeriosis. For example, in 2008 an outbreak of listeriosis in Canada linked to delicatessen meats caused $242 million (CSD) dollars in damage and 24 deaths (Thomas et al, 2015). These products include poultry deli meats.…”