By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Dandenong South commercial caterer says it is “horrified” after being closed down during an investigation into a fatal outbreak of listeriosis.
An elderly woman at the eastern suburbs private hospital died on 4 February. She was diagnosed with listeriosis – an illness normally associated with food contamination.
I Cook Foods of Dandenong South, which provides meals to the private hospital, was closed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and City of Greater Dandenong on 22 February.
In a statement, i Cook Foods director Ian Cook expressed sympathy for the bereaved family.
“We’re a family business operating for more (than) 30 years.
“We are horrified this has happened and we’re doing everything possible to assist the health authorities.
“This has devastated my family, and we, as much as everyone else, wants to get to the bottom of how this happened.”
In a statement, I Cook Foods stated that it was working closely with its suppliers and health authorities to “determine how listeria may have been introduced to the ingredients we cook at our factory”.
“The source of the listeria is yet to be determined, and the health department is still looking at which part of the food handling process was at fault.”
It noted that a report to the DHHS found no contamination on any of the facility’s food handling or preparation areas or equipment.
Testing on multiple food product samples collected at I Cook Foods returned six positive samples for listeria.
The company supplies private hospitals, aged care centres and Meals on Wheels services mostly in the eastern suburbs.
According to the DHHS, the facility will not reopen until “further testing and improvements are made”.
Listeriosis is an illness usually caused by eating food contaminated by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria are widely distributed in the environment and can grow in food at refrigeration temperatures.
Although uncommon, it can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
There have been two cases of listeriosis so far this year, compared to nine for the same period in 2018.
Victoria had 27 cases of listeriosis for the 2018 calendar year.
