Vancouver Island-based grocery giant Thrifty Foods says it will continue to support Maple Leaf Foods despite the nationwide outbreak of listeriosis and widespread consumer fear in its stores.
"This has been a tragic event, but they're a very good company and have been established for 100 years," Thrifty Foods' spokesperson Michael Alexander told CTV News.
"We've had a good relationship with them in the past, and look forward to a continued relationship with them in the future," he said.
On Thursday, the number of confirmed deaths in Canada being blamed on listeriosis jumped from five to eight.
Of the more than 200 products recalled, Thrifty says it only carried 13 - all of which were taken down as soon as the recall was announced.
Although the company has no way of accurately tracking which customers bought Maple Leaf products, their stores provided refunds to anyone who purchased the recalled items.
Store officials say one of the biggest problems right now is consumer confusion.
"We've had people who are returning things that have nothing to do with the recall because they just don't have the right information," says Alexander.
"A lot of people are scared to eat deli meat, but it just has to do with the packaged meat."
Thrifty Foods operates 21 locations in B.C., including three in the Lower Mainland and 17 on Vancouver Island.
