ARCHIVED - Release of the Lessons Learned Report on the 2008 Listeriosis Outbreak

2008 Listeriosis Outbreak: Lesson Learned Report

The Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency each released their Lessons Learned Report on April 17^th, 2009, following a thorough review of the steps taken during last year's tragic listeriosis outbreak. The purpose of this review was to identify gaps and develop solutions to improve the Government of Canada's response to outbreaks and to ensure Canadians are provided with the highest levels of food safety protection now and in the future.

The reports are detailed and frank assessments of what worked well and what did not work, and reflect the Government's commitment to a robust and effective food safety system.

Despite the fact that Canada has one of the best food safety systems in the world, and that outbreaks like the one in the summer of 2008 are extremely rare, it was clear that further improvements were needed.

This Government has been taking action to make these improvements.

The Prime Minister appointed an independent investigator to look into the reasons behind the outbreak and how to reduce the likelihood of this happening again. She will be reporting in July.

Health Canada works closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and provincial and territorial ministries of health to support food safety in Canada.

Health Canada is already using its Lessons Learned Report to guide its planning and decision-making to strengthen the Department's ability to respond to future outbreaks.

The Lessons Learned reports will inform the work of both the independent investigator and the Agricultural Subcommittee on Food Safety. We look forward to their future recommendations as we continue to improve food safety in this country

For more information:

• Lessons Learned from the Listeriosis Outbreak: Remarks by Deputy Minister of Health Canada, Morris Rosenberg, to the Sub-Committee on Food Safety of the Standing Committee on Agriculture
• Health Canada's Lessons Learned
• CFIA's Lessons Learned
• PHAC's Lessons Learned