Potential Measles Exposure Reported at Coca-Cola Bottling Facility in Ontario
Public health officials in Toronto are alerting FMCG and manufacturing stakeholders after confirming a case of measles at a Coca-Cola Canada Bottling facility. The potential exposure may impact employees and visitors who were at the plant located at 24 Fenmar Dr. in North York between May 15 and May 17.
Toronto Public Health announced that the individual diagnosed was present at the facility on all three days from 3 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Although the risk to the public is currently considered low, the agency is urging anyone who may have been exposed and is either unvaccinated or immunocompromised to monitor for symptoms and seek medical advice if necessary.
Coca-Cola Canada Bottling confirmed that it was informed about the diagnosis and is cooperating fully with public health authorities. The company also stated that it has taken proactive preventative measures, including enhanced screening and communication with employees. Operations at the facility remain unaffected.
This incident follows a small rise in measles cases reported across Canada this year, pointing to the broader implications of vaccine hesitancy and global travel on public health. For FMCG providers, especially those in food and beverage manufacturing, it highlights the importance of robust health and safety protocols and vaccination awareness among the workforce.
According to health officials, anyone exposed to measles typically begins showing symptoms within 7 to 21 days. Symptoms usually include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic skin rash. Businesses are encouraged to review employee health policies and ensure vaccine records are up to date, especially for staff in shared or high-traffic environments.
The alert serves as a reminder for FMCG operators to safeguard production facilities against communicable diseases that, while medically manageable, can disrupt supply chains and workforce availability if not quickly contained.