CFIA boosts listeria detection, reporting at meat plants
Last Updated: Friday, February 27, 2009 | 2:10 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Related
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
Food Safety - Listeria
What you need to know
- Listeria FAQs
- Listeriosis symptoms
- Meat recall timeline
- Your Interview: Dr. Allison McGeer takes questions on the outbreak
- Maple Leaf Foods facts
- Crisis management: Maple Leaf Foods' handling of the listeria outbreak
- CFIA recall list during listeriosis outbreak
News
- Maple Leaf settles class action listeriosis lawsuits for $27M (Dec. 18, 2008)
- Listeriosis probe calls for better equipment
- CFIA told to warn public about tainted meat days before advisory (Oct. 8, 2008)
- Policy change delayed alarm signal over listeria, inspectors say (Oct. 5, 2008)
- B.C. woman confirmed as 18th death in listeriosis outbreak (Sept. 19, 2008)
- N.B. woman 17th listeria death linked to Maple Leaf products (Sept. 16, 2008)
- CMAJ slams Conservatives' move to self-monitoring in meat industry (Sept. 16, 2008)
- N.B. woman 17th listeria death linked to Maple Leaf products (Sept. 16, 2008)
- 14th listeria death linked to Maple Leaf Foods (Sept. 10, 2008)
- Contaminated slicing machines likely source of listeriosis: Maple Leaf CEO (Sept. 5, 2008)
- Listeria-linked recall list lengthens (Aug. 29, 2008)
- Class action lawsuit launched over listeria outbreak (Aug. 26, 2008)
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is implementing new changes in listeria testing and reporting requirements in plants producing ready-to-eat meat.
The agency said Friday the enhanced measures will centre around early detection, reporting and control of listeria risks by both the federal government and the industry.
Plant operators that produce ready-to-eat meat, such as cold cuts, will have to conduct more rigorous listeria testing and immediately report any positive findings to the CFIA.
As of April 1, plant operators must have programs in place for testing surfaces that come in contact with food.
The agency also plans an expanded detection program for listeria and other food-borne pathogens.
Maple Leaf Foods agreed to pay up to $27 million to settle class-action lawsuits after a deadly outbreak of listeriosis was traced to equipment at a processing plant.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Syria massacre toll up to 108, UN monitor says
- The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss the recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla, in which 108 people died, many of them children under the age of 10. more »
- CP Rail negotiations 'stalled,' union says
- Negotiations between Canadian Pacific Railway Lt. and the union representing 4,800 striking locomotive engineers and conductors have come to a "stall" after the government appointed mediator walked out at 2 p.m. ET, a union spokesman says. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
Latest Health News Headlines
- Alcohol addiction team wants higher energy drink prices
- Mixing alcohol with caffeine-rich energy beverages is a trend that is continuing to rise in Canada, despite repeated warnings that the combination is unsafe, a new report warns. more »
- How curry spice helps the immune system kill bacteria
- A spice used in curry dishes helps to prevent infection and now scientists think they've got a lead on how. more »
- Calgary EMS station opens to the public
- Curious Calgarians got a look at a northwest EMS station this morning. more »
- Yellowknife toddlers catching hand, foot and mouth virus
- An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in Yellowknife is causing many toddlers and their parents some major discomfort. more »
FEATURED HEALTH
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
- Quebec tornadoes cause millions in damage
- Montreal protesters march in peaceful defiance
- Syria massacre toll up to 108, UN monitor says
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- WWE apologizes to Brazil over Canadian's flag stomp
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
