Plant-Based Milk Producer Closes All Facilities After Deadly Listeria Outbreak

Joriki Inc. shutters four plants permanently, citing financial struggles following a listeria-linked recall that resulted in three deaths.

Joriki Inc., the Toronto-based company behind plant-based milk linked to a listeria outbreak, has permanently closed all four of its facilities in Canada and the U.S.
The outbreak, traced to a production line at the Pickering, Ontario plant, led to 20 confirmed illnesses and three deaths between 2023 and 2024.
The company filed for creditor protection, owing $203 million to over 200 creditors, and cited financial losses stemming from the product recall as a key factor in the closures.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) faced criticism for not inspecting the Pickering plant for listeria in recent years, relying instead on an algorithmic risk-based approach that failed to flag the facility.
Federal Health Minister Mark Holland has ordered a review of the CFIA's inspection system, aiming to address gaps in the algorithm and improve food safety protocols.