When news broke this week about two fatalities resulting from listeriosis after consuming plant-based milk alternatives produced by the renowned French food conglomerate Danone, it evoked memories of the devastating listeria outbreak that reached its peak in 2008. During that time, cold cuts manufactured by Maple Leaf Foods claimed the lives of 22 individuals in one of Canada’s most severe food safety crises in recent history.
Similar to the Maple Leaf Foods incident, the initial infection associated with Silk and Great Value nondairy milk beverages occurred almost a year prior to the recall that was issued just recently. However, there is a significant difference compared to the events of 2008 in terms of transparency and public awareness surrounding the deadly outbreak, which has also impacted at least 10 other individuals.
Following subsequent investigations that uncovered Maple Leaf’s series of errors, Michael McCain, the company’s president and CEO during the crisis, regularly held press briefings to acknowledge the company’s missteps and outline the remedial actions taken to sanitize the production facilities responsible for the contaminated cold cuts.
Contrastingly, Danone has refrained from conducting press conferences concerning the deaths associated with its products. The company’s communication efforts have been confined to two press releases, a brief online statement, and some social media updates regarding the recall. One crucial detail regarding the outbreak remains undisclosed to the public – neither Danone nor any federal government agency has disclosed the identity of the third-party manufacturer responsible for the tainted beverages or the exact location of the implicated factory.
