TORONTO — A class-action lawsuit involving Canadians who purchased or consumed recalled plant-based milk has resulted in a $6.5 million settlement with Danone Canada, Wal-Mart Canada Corp., and Intact Insurance Company. This settlement is linked to a listeria outbreak that prompted a national recall of several Silk and Great Value plant-based milk products in July 2024.

The Public Health Agency of Canada reported that the outbreak resulted in 20 illnesses and three fatalities. The Superior Court of Quebec authorized the class action on November 17, 2025, with a settlement approval hearing scheduled for January 26, 2026.

Joey Zukran, the lawyer representing the class, stated that it is too early to determine how many individuals will participate in the settlement. Compensation will be allocated based on the severity of illness experienced after consuming the recalled products. Payments will range from $400 for those who had symptoms lasting up to 48 hours to $150,000 for individuals who suffered severe complications.

If the settlement is approved, it will conclude similar legal actions in British Columbia. Danone Canada’s head of communications emphasized that the company “remains actively engaged in the legal proceedings to achieve a timely and appropriate resolution for its consumers.”

In January, the Canadian company responsible for processing the plant-based milk linked to the outbreak permanently closed all four of its facilities. A spokesperson for Joriki, a third-party facility in Pickering, Ontario, noted that the closures resulted in significant layoffs, affecting the majority of Joriki’s employees.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency identified the Pickering plant as the source of the listeria outbreak, which led to three deaths between August 2023 and July 2024. The outbreak affected at least 20 individuals across Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Alberta.

Statistics Canada data indicates that plant-based beverages have generally been less expensive than dairy milk over the past six years, with an average price difference of about 15%.