Wednesday, June 5, 2013

CFIA to surprise inspect all food processors


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.