Janet Menard, Peel's director of human services, said several products named on a Maple Leaf Foods recall list had been served at local nursing homes including Peel Manor and Tall Pines in Brampton.

Those products were yanked upon immediate notification from public health and the region's food supplier Sysco Canada, she said.

"Some of those products were on our food supply list that comes from our food supplier," said Menard noting no one living in a Peel-operated long-term facility has fallen ill as a result of listeriosis. "As soon as we were notified by public health the food items were pulled and destroyed and they are no longer coming."

The listeriosis outbreak, which also claimed the life of an unidentified Peel Region resident, was linked to a Maple Leaf Foods plant in North York and prompted a nationwide recall of ready-to-eat meat last month.

Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said nearly all of the confirmed cases of listeriosis contracted the food-borne illness while in an institution or hospital.

The total number of deaths among confirmed cases of listeriosis has reached 15, up from 12 a week ago. "Almost all of the confirmed cases we have in this outbreak live in an institution or were hospitalized prior to the illness," stated Williams noting the average age of confirmed cases is 77.

Initially, a recall of Maple Leaf products involved 23 different meat products.

That list of has expanded to more than 220 items and now includes some mushroom and cheese products.

Grocery stores and fast-food chains across the country have pulled products associated with the listeriosis outbreak.

Locally, hospital and long-term care officials have kept close watch on food products entering their facilities.

Menard said staff are monitoring the situation closely to ensure residents in the region's care are safe.

Anne Marie Mackinnon, William Osler Health Centre's director patient food services, said products identified on the recall list have not been served at Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General hospitals.

"A thorough review of all our records, of all our storage has been done and we did not carry any of the products," Mackinnon told The Guardian.

Williams reiterated that listeriosis poses a very low risk to the general population.

Those most at risk include pregnant women, the very old, infants and people with weakened immune systems.

Healthy people rarely become ill when exposed to the bacteria.

However, Williams said the general public should still throw out all recalled products.

Meanwhile, a Brampton freezer facility is one of four locations across Canada where recalled meat products will be stored before Maple Leaf disposes of them.

Workers are Confederation Freezers, located on Precidio Court, near Torbram Road, volunteered to work overtime on the Labour Day weekend to store Maple Leaf items.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials will supervise the disposal of the meat.

For more information call ServiceOntario at 1-866-532-3161.