Monday, July 30, 2018

Feds move to require traceability

Health Canada is putting new regulations in place requiring food processors to implement traceability systems and keep data making it easier to discover the source of food poisoning.

One in eight Canadians suffers food poisoning each year.

With traceability comes the likelihood that farmers who are the source of food poisoning will be identified.

The new Safe Foods for Canadians Act and regulations take effect Jan. 15. 

At the same time, Health Canada says it is embarking on a public education program that will try to be sensitive to consumers unfairly blaming farmers.

Health Canada learned from a survey that Canadians don’t know nearly enough about how they should be handling food safely.

The Canadian public’s knowledge about safe food handling has declined over the last eight years, the survey found.