No suspect meats in Digby hospital kitchen

A statement today from Nova Scotia’s chief public health officer says meat products included in the recall were widely distributed in Nova Scotia, including hospitals and long-term care facilities.

The products have been associated with a national listeriosis outbreak, but no cases have yet been reported in Nova Scotia.

Dr. Robert Strang acknowledged that some recalled products might have been served to patients, staff and visitors at such facilities prior to the issuance of the national recall. Recalled products were also served at other facilities, restaurants and retail outlets throughout the province.

Fraser Mooney, the communications director with South West Health in Yarmouth, said kitchen and nutrition staff at hospitals in Digby, Yarmouth and Shelburne immediately reviewed food inventory for anything on the recall list.

“There was none at Digby or Roseway hospitals,” Mooney said. “When the expanded list was issued, there was one product in Yarmouth and it was discarded immediately.

“It doesn’t appear that it had been served to patients or visitors.”

He said hospital staff has done an exceptional job of keeping on top of the issue. They also are watching for foods brought to patients by visitors that might have suspect meat products.

The elderly, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women are at increased risk and are frequent patients at medical facilities, said public health officer Dr. Strang.

"All the cases in the national outbreak are the frail elderly or those who have weakened immune systems. It's important to note that healthy children and adults are not likely to become ill from eating food containing listeria bacteria," Strang said.

Information from Digby’s seniors facility, Tideview Terrace, was unavailable.

Nova Scotia’s department of health promotion and protection has also contacted all physicians in the province to remind them of the expanded recall and to provide additional clinical information.

Information on listeriosis and the meat product recall is available on the government of Nova Scotia website at www.gov.ns.ca