The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is setting up teams that
will conduct surprise inspections at all federally-inspected food-processing
plants, beginning later this year.
That means not only meat, but also eggs, fruits and
vegetables, nuts and fish.
It follows from the XL Foods Inc. scandal last fall and the
finding of a three-person team that says E. coli 0157:H7 outbreaks traced to
meat are in decline, but are increasing in other foods, especially fresh
vegetables and fruits.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced formation of the
Inspection Verification Teams in mid-May and followed up in the House of
Commons Wednesday by announcing they will be funded by $16 million over the
next three years.
CFIA vice-president Paul Mayers said the teams will be drawn
from the agency’s inspection staff and said they will serve as “a second set of
eyes” to catch failures that escape the attention of front-line inspection
staff and company personnel.
Whistleblower Norman Bourdeau has repeatedly warned that
three per cent or more of the eggs graded A are cracked, meaning there could be
harmful bacteria getting inside when they travel through wash water meant to
remove manure and other dirt.
Canadian law does not allow grading stations to pack
anything other than the proper size of Grade A eggs in cartons marked Grade A.
That, however, is proving to be a contentious issue in court
proceedings involving Ontario’s two largest egg-grading companies which account
for about 90 per cent market share.
It’s not clear what position Inspection Verification Teams
will take on this issue.
