For the second time in six months, Druxy's Famous Deli inside Toronto's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has been closed after suspected illness from Listeria.
Toronto Public Health is alerting anyone who ate any non-packaged food at that location between August 9 and September 26 to be on the lookout for symptoms of Listeriosis.
Dr. Christine Navarro, Toronto's Associate Medical Officer of Health says they can include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance. Symptoms typically present themselves within three weeks of eating contaminated food. People with weakened immune systems, the elderly and pregnant women are most susceptible to illness from Listeriosis.
Navarro could not explain why Listeria had cropped up at Druxy's at Pricess Margaret twice in such a short span of time.
"We are still in the middle of investigating (but) we know that deli meats in general, whether they're served hot or cold, these are the types of foods that are at higher risk for containing Listeria bacteria in the first place."
The Princess Margaret location of Druxy's has been closed since Wednesday and Navarro says it won't be allowed to re-open until public health officials are satisfied that everything possible has been done to prevent the return of Listeria. That includes a thorough cleaning and new staff training on food safety.
The deli was also closed in March after three people were sickened by listeria.
DineSafe inspection records show the outlet was closed September 11 for a series of "critical" infractions including "food premise maintained in manner permitting health hazard". It was cleared to re-open two days later and then closed again September 26 with you a new list of problems.
DineSafe Toronto
For more information about listeria infection click HERE.