IVANHOE CHEESE ISSUE RECALL AND HALT PRODUCTION DUE TO LISTERIA
What started as a public warning from Ivanhoe Cheese and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CIFA) became a voluntary recall a day later since the Ivanhoe Cheese Factory tested positive for Listeria in their cutting room. The plant has halted all production and has been undergoing a deep cleaning as of earlier this week while they continue to test for the bacteria and investigate to find the source of the contamination. It is unknown as to how long the plant will be closed.
Ivanhoe and the CFIA have expanded the recall notice on September 5 and 10 but according to Ivanhoe's website "There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products".
Reference:
www.communitypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1195282
www.ivanhoecheese.com
www.inspection.gc.ca
CFIA ADVISES ALL CANADIAN MEAT PLANTS TO DISMANTLE SLICERS
After the recent Maple Leaf Foods Listeria recall of 191 products that had 38 confirmed illnesses, 13 confirmed deaths, with an additional 22 suspected cases and 6 other deaths under investigation has resulted in the total shut down of their Bartor Road plant for investigation, sanitization, and review since August 20, 2008 and costing Maple Leaf more than the estimated $20 Million dollars. The results of their investigation have now been released to the public.
The CFIA has found that there was a bacterial build-up deep inside the mechanical components of Formax S-180 slicers on lines 8 and 9. Because of this the CFIA has issued an advisory notice to all Canadian meat plants to disassemble and perform a systematic, thorough and aggressive cleaning and sanitation procedure on meat slicing equipment, including all internal non-electronic parts and inform the CFIA inspector of all details of this exercise.
Reference:
www.meatingplace.com/membersonly/webnews/details.aspx?item=9658&pf=true
www.meatingplace.com/membersonly/webnews/details/aspx?item=9628&pf=true
www.meatingplace.com/membersonly/webnews/details/aspx?item=9645&pf=true
Likely Source of Listeria Contamination Identified
Maple Leaf Foods has reported that investigations into the Listeria contamination in one of their Toronto plants have identified the likely source of bacteria collection. Experts disclosed that deep inside the mechanical operations of two slicing machines on lines 8 and 9, sites of bacterial collection were found.
Maple Leaf explained that although "rigorous sanitization of the equipment was completed on a daily basis in accordance with or exceeding the equipment manufacturer's recommendations, upon disassembly areas were found where bacteria could accumulate and avoid the sanitization process".
To date there have been 38 reported cases of listeriosis and 13 deaths in Canada. Another 22 suspected cases and 6 deaths are still being investigated. Maple Leaf CEO, Micheal Calin, explained that until Maple Leaf and the Canadian government are confident in the effectiveness of the safety of protocols put in place, that the plant would remain closed.
Reference:
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=9628
LISTERIOSIS TOLL GROWS AS PLANT REMAINS CLOSED
There have been 12 deaths of which 6 still are under investigation, 26 confirmed cases, and 29 cases under investigation linked to the listeriosis recall across Canada. The plant will remain closed longer than expected while Maple Leaf and Federal Health officials want extra time to complete additional equipment disassembly and further tests. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told the news conference in Ottawa that "We fully expect that both the numbers of suspected cases and confirmed cases will increase as this investigation continues and sample continue to be tested," and a Maple Leaf spokeswoman said all recalled products had been removed from store shelves in Canada.
Maple Leaf Foods has brought in a team of experts from the U.S. and elsewhere to help get it back up and running and Linda Smith spokeswoman for the company said "We are reviewing protocols and the changes in protocol that we will open the facility under,". One of these changes includes a "hold-and-test" approach that involves taking samples from products and waiting for test results before the meat will be allowed to leave the plant.
Meanwhile a Saskatchewan-based Merchant Law Group has filed a class-action lawsuit against Maple Leaf with hundreds of consumers joining the action within hours. If the case is won, it is speculated that the total compensation could exceed hundreds of millions of dollars.
Reference:
www.nationalpost.com/story-printer.html?id=748773
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=9492
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=9536
FOOD SAFETY A GROWING CONCERN FOR CONSUMERS
The Center for Food Integrity in Kansas City has recently released new research showing that U.S. consumers are more concerned about the safety of their food than they are about the war in Iraq or global warming. The Consumer Trust Survey asked participants to rate on a scale of 0-10 (10 being the most concerned) on a plethora of issues. The results showed that concerns of food safety were higher than war, immigration issues, global warming and humane handling issues.
Over 2000 individuals took the survey and when asked to react to 24 statements about the food system, less than 20% strongly agreed that government agencies are doing a job of ensuring the safety of the food we eat. The Center for Food Integrity is a not-for-profit corporation established to build consumer confidence in the contemporary U.S. food system.
Reference: www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx
NEW METHOD OF FOOD SAFTEY ASSESSMENTS BY FSIS
A new method methodology for the conduction of food safety assessments (FSAs) will be implemented at 5300 HACCP meat processing plants by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. The new program will consist of a random FSA at least once every 4 years which will set up a cycle for all plants, a new set of questions that will provide a structure by which Enforcement, Investigation and Analysis Officers can better collect and input data, and introducing a new Listeria testing for the 2400 plants that produce ready–to-eat product or other products at risk of harboring that bacteria.
The USDA has implemented this plan with the aim of improving the consistency of inspection sand documenting findings and to create uniformity of inspections.
Ken Peterson, assistant administrator of FSIS's Office of Field Operations told Meatingplace.com "I don't need a cookie-cutter approach to FSAs, but I need a certain structure that they don't have today". Between now and next summer, Peterson's office is trying to prioritize and will start with the plants that produce 95% of all commodities and work it's way down.
Reference: www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx
MAPLE LEAF FOODS ISSUES RECALL AND TEMPORARILY CLOSES FACTORY
Maple Leaf Consumer Foods in Burlington Ontario has issued a voluntary recall on 23 of their products. In total there have approximately 2 Million dollars worth of prepared product recalled due to contamination with Listeria Monocytogenes. The factory has been temporarily shut down for a full review of their food safety procedures and a full cleaning and sanitation.
The products were distributed nationally and primarily to food service institutions such as restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, these products may have also been sold at deli counters including McDonald's and Mr. Sub. Currently there has been one death, 12 people ill, and an additional 16 probable or suspected cases. Currently the CFIA is currently monitoring the recall.
Reference: http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/New/Local/2008/08/21/6522826-sun.html