Christian Island, Ont., woman worries for her family’s health after finding dead mouse in bagged milk

WARNING: This story comprises particulars some readers could discover disturbing.

In Shaylynn Marsden’s family, milk is a staple. With a three-year-old son who loves a glass earlier than mattress and together with his meals, she will be able to by no means have sufficient in the home.

That is why when one specific bag of milk felt heavier than regular, she knew one thing was fallacious.

“I may see the tail and the hair, and I knew straight away that it was a mouse,” mentioned Marsden, 28, who lives on Christian Island on Georgian Bay.

“That stage of disgust was simply unbelievable … I actually needed to gargle and drink bleach, that is how gross I felt,” mentioned Marsden, who works in social providers.

On March 26, somewhat over every week after the bag was bought, Marsden mentioned she discovered the lifeless rodent close to the underside of the second Neilson TruTaste milk bag that got here in a bundle of three — after she and her son, Onikaniw, had already completed one bag and a few of the second bag, which contained the rodent.

Consultants say that whereas this incident is disturbing, it is a uncommon incidence. However to Marsden, the reassurance means little. She says she’s misplaced belief within the establishments meant to safeguard meals security and is nervous concerning the potential well being penalties.

On the recommendation of Telehealth practitioners, Marsden says she’s monitoring her son for any indicators of illness after already experiencing diarrhea herself. She says she’s been instructed Onikaniw is in danger for worms. 

After he was identified with bronchial asthma final yr, she’s nervous about how publicity to a rodent may additional influence his immune system.

“I am type of glad he would not perceive what’s taking place — I am taking that on for him as nicely.”

Marsden filed a web-based grievance with the corporate on March 30.

Disturbing however uncommon

Saputo, the corporate that owns Neilson Dairy, mentioned in an electronic mail to CBC Information it is conscious of the grievance.

“Whereas a problem like that is extremely unlikely to happen at any of our amenities and we have now not acquired any related shopper complaints, we take all suggestions severely and can collaborate with the CFIA [Canadian Food Inspection Agency] as we glance into it.”

Ian Younger, affiliate professor on the College of Occupational and Public Well being at Ryerson College, mentioned whereas the incident is disturbing, members of the general public ought to nonetheless think about the nation’s meals regulation system.

“We’ve one of many most secure meals security methods on the planet,” Younger mentioned. “Sometimes there are breakdowns in high quality management … however general I’d say, fortunately, issues like this are fairly uncommon.”

Younger mentioned it is onerous to know the way the incident occurred, however relying on the amenities and the way the milk is funnelled into luggage, a couple of bundle of milk may have been contaminated.

“That’s undoubtedly a priority that it may have contaminated a wider batch of product as nicely,” Younger mentioned.

The CFIA confirmed to CBC Information that it has launched an investigation.

“At the moment, the CFIA has not acquired every other related complaints, no remembers have been issued on account of this grievance, and no sickness has been reported to the CFIA,” reads the e-mail.

“We’re at the moment following-up on the grievance, and can notify the complainant when the investigation has been accomplished.”

Marsden says she did not report her diarrhea signs on the time of the grievance, however reported it to Telehealth officers.

Insult to damage

Marsden lives in Beausoleil First Nation on Christian Island, situated within the southern tip of Georgian Bay, about an hour away from Midland, Ont.

She says with the overall rise in the price of residing and the truth that it requires greater than an hour of journey by ferry and automotive to get to the mainland for necessities, it provides insult to damage to pay for meals that does not go the bar for security.

Shifting ahead, she says she’ll assume twice in relation to consuming out and shopping for meals on the grocery retailer. 

“It type of simply causes you to lose all religion that you’ve got in meals and manufacturing industries,” Marsden mentioned.

Marsden says she’s wanting into exploring the matter legally.

“I simply hope that the producers and corporations are extra accountable and accountable, and so they’re taking this stuff severely [and] particularly with the meals costs going so excessive, that we’re getting what we’re paying for.

“It could occur to anybody. I am simply hoping that it would not occur to anybody else.”