The XL Foods beef plant at the centre of a massive meat recall will be allowed resume limited operations.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said no meat will be allowed to leave the plant until it is satisfied all the food safety protocols now in place at the Brooks, Alta., plant are working effectively.
Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, executive director of western operations with the CFIA, said the company has addressed previously identified food safety maintenance and sanitation deficiencies including condensation, drainage problems and ice buildup on the freezer door.
Read Also
Government to invest in biofuel production
The federal government will invest $370 million in a new biofuel production incentive.
XL Foods staff will be allowed to cut and process the 5,100 carcasses already in the plant from when the plant was temporarily shut down Sept. 27 because of E. coli food safety concerns. During this process, CFIA officials can see the effectiveness of XL Foods’ new E. coli corrective action plan.
Kochhar said the 5,100 carcasses have been tested for E. coli and more than 99 percent tested negative. Those carcasses that tested negative for E. coli will be cut under the watchful eye of CFIA officials.
“This will allow the CFIA to review in a controlled manner the company’s improvements made to all previously addressed deficiencies. I want to be clear. The plant will not be permitted to resume normal operations until the CFIA confirms in writing that it is safe to do so,” said Kochhar during a news conference earlier today.
“CFIA will immediately suspend operations if inspectors note any concerns with the facility’s safety controls. This plant will not be allowed to resume normal operations until the CFIA confirms it is safe to do so. The CFIA’s top priority is the health and safety of Canadians.”
CFIA will not say how long it will be before XL Foods can proceed to the next step and resume normal operations.
Two extra inspectors have been hire to verify the new procedures are working properly, in addition to the 40 inspectors and six veterinarians already at the Brooks plant.
Richard Arsenault, director of meat programs with the CFIA, said the new safety procedures with extra rigorous CFIA inspections would stay in place until they are confident the plant is functioning properly.
