According to its website, the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency exercised 11 detention orders on Ontario food companies between April
and June this year.
Both of the province’s dominant egg graders were slapped
with detention orders – Gray Ridge Eggs Inc. for a “biological hazard” in Grade
C eggs at its grading station at Listowel and two detentions at the Burnbrae
Farms operation at Mississauga for “other non-compliance” issues.
Beking Poultry Farm of Oxford Station also ran afoul of the
“other non-compliance” issues for shell eggs.
DeBoer’s Poultry Inc of Burlington had “various ready to eat
and non ready to eat poultry products” detained for “inaccurate or misleading
labeling”.
The Stirling Creamery of Belleville had salted butter solids
detained because it was contaminated with Listeria bacteria.
Henry H. Misner of Simcoe had battered fish fillets detained
for “lack of proper documentation” and Erie Meat Products of Mississauga had boneless
skinless chicken breast detained because of metal fragments in the meat.
Premium Brands of Toronto had ready-to-eat sausages detained
because of Listeria and Thomas Canning of Maidstone had canned diced tomatoes
detained because of mold.
There were six detentions in Atlantic Canada, five in Quebec
and four in Western Canada.
Fourteen import shipments were refused entry, ranging from
chicken enchilada soup and cooked processed turkey from the United States to
dried white mulberries from Turkey.
The CFIA issued 14 fines totaling $140,000 in Atlantic
Canada and 71 across Western Canada totaling $714,000 for failure to comply
with plant protection regulations.
One fine of $10,000 was levied for infractions of feed
regulations against a company in Western Canada.
There were 30 animal transportation fines in Quebec totaling
$52,600, two in Ontario for $6,800, 17 in Western Canada for $30,800 and 18 in
Atlantic Canada for $49,000.
Eight fines totaling $50,800 were issued for infractions of
the Health of Animals Act and 21 fines totaling $7,800 for violations of animal
identification regulations.
In all, the CFIA collected more than $1 million in fines
during the three months from April to June.
There was a long list of cancellations of organic
certifications, including many who simply withdrew from the industry, but also
a few whose certification was suspended for failure to meet standards.
Both Kraft Canada Ltd. at Gladstone and Oakville and Strubs
Food Corp. withdrew their certifications.
Sprouts for Life had its licence suspended by Pro-Cert, then
cancelled.
More information is available on the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca . Check under “accountability”.
