Arrest made in syringe case at Maple Leaf Foods plant
Last Updated: Friday, January 5, 2007 | 4:47 PM ET
CBC News
A 51-year-old man has been charged in connection with the discovery of syringe casings at a Maple Leaf Foods plant in southwestern Ontario last fall.
Edgar Remmert of Kitchener was arrested late Thursday and faces charges of criminal negligence, common nuisance endangering life and mischief over $5,000. He is an employee of the company.
He has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court March 9.
The company notified police and the public Nov. 7 that employees at a Kitchener meat-processing plant had found empty plastic syringe casings in the plant on three separate days, with the third syringe found "slightly embedded" in a ham. The plant's meat products are sold Canada-wide.
Amid fears the products had been tampered with, the company recalled some ham and turkey products. No illnesses were reported by customers and tests on products pulled from shelves showed no traces of contamination.
The company also boosted security with more stringent supervision, metal detection of products and security cameras.
Syringe casings were found on processing tables on Oct. 24 and Nov. 2, then on Nov. 3 partially embedded in a ham.
Initial tests by an outside laboratory on the casings found trace amounts of a saline-based solution, with additional tests showing the third syringe had a residual amount of heparin, an anticoagulant that does not pose a health risk.
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