Two dead and 10 sick from ALMOND milk and other dairy-free drinks contaminated with deadly bacteria

Two people have died from a listeria infection after consuming popular milk alternatives made by Silk and Great Value brands.

The patients were in Canada, where another ten people were sickened in the outbreak, nine of which were hospitalized. Most of the cases were in Ontario.

They had consumed either the Silk-branded oat, almond, cashew or coconut milk alternatives that are popular among health gurus and fitness fans.

Danone, the French company that owns Silk, has said the contaminated milk alternative was made by a third-party factory that is now under investigation. None of the contaminated products were sold outside of Canada, they added.

The above shows cartons of Silk milk. Many have been recalled after the listeria contamination was revealed

After revealing the outbreak, Health Canada issued a recall for lots of 18 milk alternatives over listeria contamination fears — almost all made by Silk.

It was not clear how the milk alternatives became contaminated, but in previous cases, this has been linked to contaminated water dripping into the production line or onto processing equipment.

Employees may also spread the bacteria to products if they come in with it on their clothes, or it may be brought in if nuts used to make the milk were sprayed with contaminated water.

Dairy products are vulnerable to listeria contamination, which is often linked to machinery being contaminated — possibly via feces from cattle.

Of the people who have fallen ill, ten are in Ontario and two others are in Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Nearly 60 percent of those infected are 60 years old or older, and they fell ill between August 2023 and early July 2024.

Public health officials say more illnesses could still be detected because of the time taken for bacteria to cause symptoms.

The above shows the dates when infections with listeria linked to the contaminated milk alternatives were revealed

Frederic Guichard, the president of Danone Canada, said: 'The news in this notice is devastating and our most sincere sympathies go out to the families and loved ones during this difficult time.

'We are working with the utmost seriousness and in close partnership with the authorities to thoroughly investigate and shed light on the circumstances surrounding this event.'

Silk milk is considered the most popular plant-based milk brand in the US by data company Statista, with the highest proportion of Americans — 82 percent — saying they had heard of it.

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The US market for milk alternatives is booming, with its value exceeding $27.5billion in 2022 — surging from previous years.  

Listeria causes no odor or color changes to contaminated milk alternatives, causing someone to consume it unwittingly.

Warning signs of an infection include nausea, cramps, diarrhea and constipation — which generally emerge within hours to three days of infection.

More than 90 percent of patients are hospitalized, the FDA says.

In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system and cause meningitis — inflammation of the fluid surrounding the brain — and sepsis. Both can prove fatal.

Those with weakened immune systems and over 60 years old are at particularly high risk from the infection, officials say.

Pregnant women are also at higher risk of suffering a miscarriage if they catch listeria because the bacteria can spread to the fetus.

About 1,600 people are infected with listeria in the US every year, estimates suggest, while about 260 people die.

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