Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian public-health officials said as many as 12 deaths may be linked to an outbreak of food poisoning, an increase from four yesterday, and the number of cases may rise.

Eleven of the fatalities from listeriosis occurred in Ontario, and one was in British Columbia, Mark Raizenne, director-general for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said today at a news conference in Ottawa. The fatalities are among 26 cases of the disease from the same strain of listeria that was identified at a Toronto plant run by Maple Leaf Foods Inc.

The company, Canada's largest food processor, expanded a food recall yesterday to include all meat products made at the Toronto plant. Of the deaths in Ontario, listeriosis was listed as the cause or an underlying factor in six fatalities, with the other five under investigation to determine the extent to which the disease was a factor, Raizenne said.

``We fully expect that the numbers of suspected and confirmed cases will increase as this investigation continues and samples continue to be tested,'' Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said at the news conference.

Health officials are investigating an additional 29 suspected cases to determine whether they are connected to the strain discovered at the Maple Leaf plant.

Maple Leaf temporarily closed its Bartor Road plant in Toronto last week after a number of Sure Slice delicatessen meats tested positive for listeria, a type of bacteria that can lead to fevers, severe headaches and nausea. Listeriosis is the disease caused by the bacteria.

The company expects to open the facility Aug. 28, after previously targeting a reopening tomorrow, according to a statement late today.

Change of Practice

A change in practice to include fatalities where listeriosis may not have been the direct cause contributed to the sharp increase in the death toll, health officials said.

Maple Leaf fell C$1, or 10 percent, to C$8.80 at 4:10 p.m. on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the biggest one-day decline since Feb. 22, 2006. The shares have dropped 18 percent since Aug. 19, the day before the Toronto-based company expanded a recall of some of its meat products.

Ontario officials said today in a statement that the province asked health authorities to ``check their local hospitals, long-term care homes and daycares to ensure than any products from the Toronto Maple Leaf plant have been removed and are not been being consumed.''

Maple Leaf reiterated today that the recall will cost about C$20 million ($19.1 million) and said its first priority is to restore consumers' confidence in its products.

`Financial Impact'

``The short-term financial impact of this action is secondary to our responsibility to safeguard our consumers' health,'' Chief Financial Officer Michael Vels said today in a conference call.

The recall involves more than 200 meat products that were made as early as January, Vels said. The products represent a ``small percentage'' of the company's annual sales, which were C$5.21 billion last year. Vels declined to speculate on how the recall will affect future Maple Leaf revenue.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said today that sandwiches made by Lucerne Foods, a unit of Safeway Inc., are being recalled because some of them may contain Maple Leaf meats. The Safeway and TakeAwayCafe brand sandwiches were distributed in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Maple Leaf placed advertisements today in Canadian newspapers committing to put consumers' interests first.

``This is the toughest situation we've faced in 100 years as a company,'' Chief Executive Officer Michael McCain said in the ad. ``We know this has shaken your confidence in us.''

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

Last Updated: August 25, 2008 21:41 EDT