Meat Recall Scandal in Canada

According to the Argentine Beef Packers S.A., government officials advised the staff of hospitals and nursing homes, to stop serving Maple Leaf products at least 5 days before the public were informed.

The Canadian Federal Foods Inspection Agency(CFIA), is now coming under fire from the government and media, after the allegations that some of the deaths from the deadly food poisoning Listeriosis could have been prevented.

Canadian Agricultural Minister, Gerry Ritz said in an email on Saturday “If any structural problems emerge from the investigation, they will be addressed, I assure you that the government is taking the matter very seriously”.

Garfield Balsom a spokesman for the CFIA defended the agencies practices saying “Once we have the evidence to indicate that the product is affected, then we do the appropriate recall and we do it quickly and efficiently”.

The CFIA launched its investigation on August 6, it is now alleged they were aware of the outbreak of listeriosis on July 30.

Michael McBane, national co-ordinator of the Canadian Health Coalition, said the agency should not be in charge of food safety as this is a conflicting mandate to their role of promoting trade and industry.

Further Reading

	-	Find out more information on Listeriosis by clicking here.
	-	Go to our previous news item on this story by clicking here.

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