The fallout from the largest beef recall in Canadian history continues with signs of confusion emanating from decision makers overseeing the XL Foods beef plant in Brooks, Alta.
At press time, the plant remained closed.
But last week’s layoff of 2,000 workers, then the recall of 800 just a day later, sends a loud and clear message that all is not well.
Even if food safety tests currently being conducted at the Brooks slaughter plant come back clean, and beef from the factory started to move to the public again, we should not consider the matter closed.
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A public inquiry presents the public with the best chance of finding answers to key questions about the XL situation in particular and the beef processing industry as a whole.
Among the questions to be answered are what happened, when, and how the Canadian food safety system rates in protecting public safety.
To date, 12 human cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses have been tracked to the XL plant. In the early days of the outbreak, serious questions arose about XL Foods failing to provide timely information to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The first positive tests for E. coli contamination in Canadian beef were reported in the United States Sept. 4, but the recalls were not initiated in Canada until Sept. 16. The CFIA blames XL for delays in passing along information. Although legislation is now before Parliament designed to close this loophole, accountability failings of this magnitude must be laid bare. Officials and the public need to know how it happened.
The situation at XL itself, and whether it was adhering to proper food handling protocols, is key information for the inquiry to assess, but the lessons learned would have far-reaching implications for the broader industry as well.
Questions to address are many. Were proper protocols followed? What went wrong and what can be done to ensure mistakes are not repeated?
And broader still are serious questions about plant size. Is a beef processing plant that slaughters 4,000 cattle per day too large to allow for adequate safety controls? Is the line speed too fast? How many employees are optimal at key points in the production chain? Were the 40 inspectors and six veterinarians at the plant enough? Are there enough inspectors properly situated on the floor at critical points? How could they be better deployed? Are there equipment issues that can be addressed in new ways with new technologies?
Canada produces far more beef than it can consume domestically. That makes size efficiencies critical if Canadian processors are to compete against large companies in the U.S.
A public inquiry that includes a review and analysis of industry practices may offer much-needed solutions. For one, is there a production sweet spot where plant efficiencies, output and food safety meet?
In addition, concentration of ownership in the Canadian beef slaughter industry has never been properly studied. Two companies, XL and Cargill, own almost all of Canada’s beef slaughter capacity.
This is not to suggest we set up a witch hunt commission designed to condemn Canada’s beef processing sector, which has served millions of people safely for decades. But today’s extensive distribution networks and the potential that creates for massive food safety issues have not been adequately researched and discussed.
Nor has the contention by some that smaller plants are inherently safer.
The XL Foods incident shouldn’t be viewed as a singular event. We must seize the chance to improve, condemn or confirm the safety of our beef processing system. Public confidence and a healthy processing sector to serve western Canadian producers may well depend on it.
