There has been much hype around Salmonella and E. coli food borne infections, but, in fact, they have very low mortality. However, Canada has been hit by an outbreak of a much more dangerous bacteria, which has a mortality rate 25 times higher than Salmonella. Twenty-five people have acquired listeriosis, a bacterial infection caused by a gram-positive bacterium called Listeria monocytogenes, of whom four have already died.

Canada's Public Health Agency is currently investigating other cases, and more detections and deaths may be reported. At least 30 people are being investigated, and it is likely that more will be affected, as the onset of symptoms of listeriosis can occur up to 70 days after contaminated food is consumed.

The government agency has found that Maple Leaf Foods of Ontario appears to be the source of the deadly bacteria. The company issued a wide recall of its products, whose complete list can be found at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Web site. Around 220 products are recalled, amounting to nearly $20 million. The plant was completely shut down to allow for heavy sanitizing. Maple Leaf has product liability insurance.

Recalled brands include, but are not limited, to: Artisan, Best Value, Bittners, Boston Pizza, Burns, Campfire, Ciabatta Club, Compliments, Coorsh, Country Morning, Equality, Foodservice, Harmonie, Hickory Farms, Hygrade, Kirkland Signature, Lumberjack, Maple Leaf, Mayfair, Marque, McDonalds, Mitchell's, Mr. Sub, Northern Best Value, Olympic, Overlander, Parma, Pizza Nova, Rouyn, Safeway, Schneider, Shopsy's, The Butcher's Cut, Tim Horton, Western Family and Westfair.

Meanwhile, the company's stock dipped nearly 10 percent.

Listeria monocytogenes is commonly found in soil, stream water, sewage, plants, and food. They are able to grow in temperatures ranging from 39°F, the temperature of a refrigerator, to 99°F, the body's internal temperature. Listeria is able to infect the fetus by penetrating the endothelial layer of the placenta. The bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics such as ampicillin, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, linezolid, azithromycin, and cotrimoxazole.