SASKATOON (Staff) – A federal investigation has found that CSP Foods broke the rules when it fogged its Saskatoon flour mill with the pesticide Malathion.
The level of pesticide residue was within allowable limits. However, applying the chemical through fogging was “inconsistent with the label instructions,” said Bill Maksymetz of Agriculture Canada.
He said there were no health concerns arising from the pesticide use, and the practice has stopped.
Using a controlled pesticide product contrary to the label is a violation of the Pest Control Products Act, but there will be no charges or penalties levied against CSP.
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Maksymetz said two key factors went into that decision: The fogging was done when the plant was shut down showed an “intent for exercising safety” and the residues in the flour produced at the mill were well under the allowable level of two parts per million.
CSP general manager Neil Moore couldn’t be reached Monday.
In earlier published press reports, he called it a “technical violation” and said the company has hired a national pest control firm to apply pesticides at its Saskatoon mill in the future, rather than having it done by CSP employees.
