Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Canada recorded a third death from an outbreak of listeria that triggered a recall of meats by Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada's biggest food processor.

A third death was linked to the outbreak today, Philippe Brideau, a spokesman for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said in a telephone interview. He provided no further details. Earlier, Ontario officials confirmed a second fatality, an elderly woman from southwestern Ontario.

The deaths are among 13 confirmed cases of listeriosis, a food-borne disease caused by the bacteria. Seventeen more cases are under investigation and may be linked to the company's Bartor Road food-processing plant in Toronto.

Maple Leaf said a number of Sure Slice meat products made at the plant tested positive for listeria, which can lead to high fevers, severe headaches and neck stiffness.

Maple Leaf is the ``probable'' cause of the infections, although there is ``no definitive'' connection, Ontario's acting Chief Medical Officer of Health David Williams said yesterday.

The Toronto-based food processor recalled 23 delicatessen meat products this week and said it's sterilizing the plant before production resumes Aug. 25.

Maple Leaf dropped 47 cents, or 4.6 percent, to C$9.80 at 4:33 p.m. in Toronto Stock Exchange trading. The shares have declined 34 percent this year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Bell in Toronto at kbell2@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 22, 2008 16:48 EDT