More proof public inquiry is needed into listeria outbreak: Easter
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 | 12:38 PM ET
CBC News
An investigation that revealed how a positive listeria test could have remained secret for weeks at a Maple Leaf Foods plant shows the need for a full public inquiry, the Liberal agriculture critic said Tuesday.
Wayne Easter said a policy change at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must be investigated through a judicial inquiry because a nationwide listeria outbreak has had such an impact on the health and eating habits of Canadians.
Easter was responding to a CBC-Toronto Star investigation that showed how a listeria outbreak at a Toronto Maple Leaf Foods plant last month may have flown under the radar of the CFIA. The policy change kept inspectors off the factory floor, even when the company knew there was bacterial contamination.
"The only answer now is a public inquiry, right up to upper reaches of the Prime Minister's Office and the minister's office on what changes have been actually made, what went wrong in this case," said Easter.
One inspector, speaking on condition of anonymity, went as far as to say many lives could have been saved if meat inspectors had been made aware of listeria contamination sooner.
So far, 20 people have died after eating contaminated Maple Leaf Food products.
The policy change at issue concerns how quickly a food producer like Maple Leaf must report a positive test for listeria. Prior to April 1, companies were required to immediately alert food inspectors of any positive test and then detail exactly how they would sterilize the contamination. Three subsequent negative tests were required before the area in question was allowed back into food production.
Under the new rule, a company would send updates to the CFIA twice a month, even if subsequent tests showed contamination persisted. Inspectors were not required to be on hand to follow up on the company's cleaning strategy.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has already promised to hold an investigation into the listeria outbreak, but not a judicial inquiry that would have powers to compel people to testify.
Bob Kingston, president of the union that represents food inspectors, argued that the Maple Leaf plant in Toronto should not be able to reopen until the policy is changed to bring inspectors back into the plant to oversee cleanups after contamination is discovered.
"We would like to see that before full operation of the Maple Leaf plant because we've got concerns. We've got a number of questions that haven't been clearly answered for the public or inspection staff," said Kingston.
Maple Leaf Foods did not respond directly to the union's demand. But in the past, company president Michael McCain has said the plant will not resume full operations until he's convinced the system is completely safe.
