Thousands of Victorians may have been exposed to a potentially fatal bacteria that has been linked to the death of an elderly woman.
Hospitals, aged care homes, some councils and several Meals on Wheels services are among customers of a catering company shut down amid fears of spreading listeriosis.
The health department closed I Cook Foods of Dandenong South on Friday after meals it provided to a private hospital in Melbourne's east may have been contaminated with the bug.
The bacteria is believed to have contributed to the death of an 80-year-old woman earlier this month.
Victoria's acting chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told reporters on Friday he acted out of an "abundance of caution" to close the kitchen, while the department investigates the woman's death.
"We understand she has consumed a number of high risk foods, they were investigated in the community but they have also been tracked back potentially to I Cook Foods," Dr Sutton said.
"We think something has gone amiss in the food production ... but we are at very early stages of investigation."
Thousands of people may have been exposed, Dr Sutton noted.
Six positive samples for listeriosis have been found in the business's kitchen.
I Cook Foods has been contacted for comment.
The production facility will be reviewed, retested and cleaned before being permitted to reopen.
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