The XL Foods’ nationwide recall of beef products in 2012 over E.coli contamination was preventable and was caused due to lax approach towards food safety, according to an independent review initiated by the Canadian government.
In 2012, XL Foods recalled more than 2000 meat products and about 18 people fell ill after consuming the contaminated products. The recall a prompted a month-long shut down of the XL Foods plant, which was later purchased by JBS South America.
The three-member panel that evaluated the incident said that lax attitude towards food safety procedures by both the staff at an Alberta beef-processing plant and federal food inspectors.
The review noted that the XL Foods plant was unprepared for the crisis as it never conducted any mock recalls on a scale that remotely mimicked a real event. The report blamed a 'weak food safety culture; and 'relaxed attitude' to safety protocol at the XL Foods.
The panel has outlined recommendations to improve food safety, including better training for CFIA staff and tighter enforcement of oversight responsibilities.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz welcomed the report and in response, has announced that the government will invest nearly C$16m ($15.5m) over the next three years to establish Inspection Verification Teams (IVTs) to oversee the performance of Canada's entire food inspection system. IVTs will conduct unannounced spot checks of plants across the country.
The IVTs are meant to ensure that the overall food safety system is effective and that food safety rules and standards are consistently and thoroughly followed and enforced. The IVT concept will address several of the panel's recommendations.
Minister Ritz said that Canadian families need to have confidence in the food safety system, which is why the government initiated this independent review.
"We accept the panel's recommendations and are taking concrete steps to ensure that our system continues to provide safe food for Canadian families today and in the future," Ritz added.
