Press release
Environmental Health partially re-opens Foody World
Richmond, BC – Following several inspections, Vancouver Coastal Health is allowing portions of Foody World, a grocery store located at 3000 Sexsmith Road in Richmond, to re-open. The store was ordered closed October 14 due to Listeria contamination. Environmental Health Officers are satisfied that Foody World has met the health and safety standards necessary to facilitate the re-opening of the meat, seafood, grocery and produce departments of the store. The hot kitchen, bakery, and sushi bar remain closed until further notice.
Environmental Health Officers are still warning customers not to consume any produce or ready-to-eat foods, such as BBQ pork or baked goods, made in-house at Foody World dated July 2016 through October 14. Six people were hospitalized due to the illness. One of the patients died, although the cause of death is unknown, as they also had other underlying conditions.
Symptoms of Listeriosis include fever, headache, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle aches. Listeriosis can also cause serious illness such as meningitis or blood infections in pregnant women and newborns, those with weakened immune systems and older adults or seniors. Symptoms typically start within four weeks after consuming, but can appear up to ten weeks later.
If you think you have an infection caused by Listeria, see a doctor for testing, advice and treatment. VCH Public Health will follow-up with any patients whose lab results are positive for Listeria. Most healthy people require no treatment, however, those at higher risk of serious illness can be treated with antibiotics.
For more information about the food recall, members of the public can call Vancouver Coastal Health – Health Protection at 604-233-3147 and ask to speak to a senior environmental health officer. Further information is available at the following websites:
BC Centre for Disease Control - Listeria/Listeriosis
HealthLInkBC – Chinese version
Government of Canada – Food Poisoning
VCH is responsible for the delivery of $3.4 billion in community, hospital and residential care to more than one million people in communities including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
CONTACT:
Tiffany Akins, Communications Leader
Vancouver Coastal Health
Phone: 604-708-5281
