Hospital Beef Supplier Takes Blame

An Auckland-based meat product company provided roast beef products tainted with listeria which were served to patients at Waikato Hospital.

Testing carried out at Waikato Hospital two weeks ago discovered the listeria in beef served in sandwiches and salads, and led to other other outlets including North Shore Hospital being alerted.

The potentially contaminated food was sold at the hospital’s cafes for five days and to patients for three days.

Doug Leonard, director of East Tamaki firm Leonard’s Superior Smallgoods Ltd, confirmed the tainted beef came from his company, and says it’s the first incident of its kind.

Mr Leonard said the tainting of the beef was believed to be the result of a staff error.

“I know it’s an easy throwaway to blame people but we do in this case think it’s just a case of someone not completely following the guidelines in entering the factory and handling the product,” Mr Leonard said.

The Leonard’s products found in supermarkets are safe to buy and eat.

The infected batch went to Waikato and North Shore and Waitakere hospitals and also to 31 private cafes in the North Island which put the contaminated meat in their sandwiches.

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