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By JESSICA MCDIARMID
The Canadian Press

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TORONTO - A nationwide outbreak of listeriosis that has claimed at least eight lives and been linked to bacteria found in meats made by Maple Leaf Foods is "an outrageous situation" that never should have happened, says a national consumer advocacy group.

Eleanor Friedland, vice-president of the Consumers Council of Canada, said Thursday she doesn't believe the federal government when it says consumer safety is a priority.

"If that's the case, how come (so many) people have died and we don't know how many more will be showing symptoms?" Friedland said.

"The ball fell through and consumer confidence is right down the tubes, with respect to government and companies like Maple Leaf. It's absolutely outrageous."

Friedland's comments came on a day that saw the number of deaths conclusively blamed on the outbreak jump to eight from five, and included a funeral for an eastern Ontario woman whose sudden death Monday is being blamed

by family members on listeriosis.

Frances Clark, 89, was remembered Thursday as being "full of fun" by her friend Shirley Sutton following a funeral in the town of Madoc, Ont., that was attended by some 60 people.

Family members have said Clark, who suffered a separated shoulder in a fall last month, spent time in a hospital and a nursing home before falling ill.

Reports say both institutions served recalled Maple Leaf meat products, but the family is still waiting to hear from medical officials whether Clark's case was part of the nationwide outbreak.

Friedland called on the federal government to ramp up inspections and for municipal and provincial governments to bully Ottawa into paying attention to the matter, which she said she plans to make a major election issue should Canada head for a fall vote.

"It's affecting more and more people than you can possibly imagine," Friedland said, adding she has heard from many concerned citizens in the wake of the outbreak and recalls of Maple Leaf products.

"School lunches are going to have to be re-thought, hospitals, cafeteria - this is a major, a major, consumer issue."

She also demanded an answer for how Maple Leaf foods came to be contaminated with Listeria in the first place, adding that she would not accept company president Michael McCain saying the root of contamination may never be traced. "It's nonsense. They have to find out what caused this so that it can never happen again," Friedland said.

"If they don't find out, how do I know that next month it's not going to happen again?''