OTTAWA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the listeriosis outbreak linked to contaminated meat across Canada has risen to 12,health officials said Monday.

    The number until the end of last week was six, and the spike in deaths is because officials have reworked the definition to include any cases where listeria is a contributing factor to a person's illness, said Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz at a news conference in Ottawa.

    Meanwhile, a total of 26 people are confirmed as being infected with the disease and another 29 cases are under investigation, he said.

    The outbreak is linked to contaminated meat products from the Toronto branch of Maple Leaf Foods, Canada's biggest food company.

    The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Saturday that "results of genetic testing from three samples of the products recalled by Maple Leaf Foods show that two tested positive for the outbreak strain of listeria."

    The company recalled all meat products manufactured at the Toronto facility after the initial reports of deaths and has expanded recalled products to 220 by Monday.

    More than two-dozen sandwich varieties containing Maple Leaf meat available in other food stores across Canada were also added to the recall list.

    Listeriosis may develop with flu-like symptoms, such as a stiffneck, headache, nausea and fever. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly and other people with weak immune systems.