Manitoba meat processing plants are critically short on meat inspectors, as some plants have less than half the necessary number of federal government inspectors, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
“(They) are operating with substantially fewer than the minimum number of meat inspectors required to properly ensure consumer safety,” said Bob Kingston, PSAC agriculture union president, at a press conference in Winnipeg Aug. 20.
“This includes the giant Maple Leaf hog slaughter establishment in Brandon, which typically operates 34 percent below the minimum inspection staff levels. These levels are set by the agency (Canadian Food Inspection Agency), by their own requirements.”
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According to PSAC, the Maple Leaf plant in Brandon should employ 29 meat inspectors per shift. On average, 19 federal inspectors work at the plant.
Manitoba’s second largest hog processor, Hylife Foods in Neepawa, should have at least 27 meat inspectors at the plant, Kingston said. PSAC stats show that 19 inspectors typically work at the Neepawa plant.
Smaller processors, like the Dunn-Rite poultry plant in Manitoba, should have seven meat inspectors on site but usually has three, PSAC said.
Kingston said the inspection shortfall at Manitoba slaughter plants is not abnormal. Most of the meat processing plants in Canada lack the required number of inspectors.
“The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is in the process of downsizing meat inspection staff, right across the country,” he said. “After the Harper government cut its budget. The agency plans to eliminate 273 positions, as it grapples with a $35 million budget cut.”
Kingston said the shortage of inspectors is compromising the safety of meat products in Canada.
He said there’s been a “huge spike” in the number of listeria recalls since the government cutback on meat inspectors in January.
“They reduced inspection in the areas of sanitation and pre-operational checks. Those are the exact areas of concern when the listeriosis outbreak killed more than 20 people in 2008,” he said. “Since that time the number of recalls that were related to listeria (have) more than quadrupled from the previous year.”
Chris Aylward, PSAC executive vice-president, who also spoke at the Winnipeg press event, said Canadians who want the federal government to employ more inspectors and ensure the safety of meat should contact their federal election candidates to see where they stand on this issue.
Earlier this year, federal health minister Rona Ambrose refuted the PSAC claims. She told the House of Commons health committee that the CFIA has not cutback on staff.
“There are absolutely no cuts. I understand the president of the union says there are cuts, but the president of the CFIA has said there are no cuts.”
Ambrose also said the agency’s funding has reached record levels and Canada’s food safety system is the best in the world.
Contact robert.arnason@producer.com
