Woman dies in private hospital, diagnosed with listeriosis

Victoria’s largest Meals on Wheels provider’s food has been linked to the death of an elderly woman in a private hospital in Melbourne’s east.

The state’s largest Meals on Wheels provider has been temporarily shut down after its food was linked to the death of an elderly woman.

The kitchen of I Cook Foods, based in Dandenong South, was closed on Thursday night as food samples returned six positive samples for listeria.

The company had been supplying food to a private hospital in Melbourne’s east where a woman in her 80s died earlier this month from listeriosis.

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Thousands of other people may also have been exposed to listeria-contaminated food but authorities say most healthy individuals are not at risk of getting sick.

I Cook Foods produces more than 7000 meals for council Meals on Wheels services every week, while also supplying food to more than 10 private hospitals and aged care facilities in the eastern suburbs.

Victoria’s acting chief health officer Brett Sutton said the elderly victim had consumed “a number of high-risk foods”, some of which had been traced back to I Cook Foods.

He said investigations were continuing to determine what food had caused her illness.

“I’ve acted out of an abundance of precaution in closing it. I understand it’s been deeply disruptive to Meals on Wheels … But I’ve acted because I want to have an absolute assurance that no contaminated food would be supplied,” Dr Sutton said.

I Cook Foods director Ian Cook said the business was horrified and their hearts went out to the woman’s family.

“We’re a family business operating for more 30 years,” he said in a statement.

“We are horrified this has happened and we’re doing everything possible to assist the health authorities.

“We would like to express our sympathy to the family of the woman who has died and will continue to co-operate with and assist the relevant authorities in every way possible.

“This has devastated my family, and we, as much as everyone else, want to get to the bottom of how this happened.”

The company’s statement also said: “We are working closely with the health authorities and our suppliers to determine how listeria may have been introduced to the ingredients we cook in our factory.”

“We take our responsibility in the preparation and handling of food extremely seriously.”

Listeria can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Victoria’s acting chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton said investigations were ongoing. Picture: AAP Image/Alex Murray

Dr Sutton said it was usually found in foods such as soft cheeses, sliced meats and some fruits. He said while no other cases had been reported, “potentially thousands of people have been exposed” to the disease.

Symptoms including fever, headache, tiredness, aches and pains usually appear within about two weeks of eating contaminated food, meaning many people are still at risk.

More serious symptoms include brain infection and blood poisoning, and while the fatality rate is as high as 30 per cent among at-risk people, listeriosis can be successfully treated with antibiotics if it is caught early.

Dr Sutton said I Cook Foods would likely remain closed for one to two weeks, with a thorough clean underway as authorities also assess the need for better food handling processes.

“This facility won’t open up again until we’re satisfied that those improvements are in place and further testing is negative,” Dr Sutton said.

Authorities have seen two cases of listeriosis in Victoria so far this year, compared to nine in the same period last year, and 27 overall during 2018.

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Originally published as Woman dies in private hospital, diagnosed with listeriosis