Listeria fear after Canada deaths

Canadian health officials are investigating 12 deaths thought to be linked to contaminated meat products.

Six people are known to have died from the bacterial infection known as listeria, after eating tainted meat traced to a factory in Toronto.

A further six deaths are still under investigation.

Health officials have warned Canadians to stay alert because this type of food poisoning can occur up to 70 days after eating contaminated food.

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"We fully expect that both the number of suspected and confirmed cases will increase as this investigation continues and samples continue to be tested", said the Agriculture and Food Minister, Gerry Ritz.