Questions and Answers: CFIA Investigation into Capital Packers Inc. (Listeria monocytogenes)

Background information on the plant

What products are produced at Establishment 231, Capital Packers Inc.?

Establishment 231, Capital Packers Inc. is a processing plant that produces both ready-to-eat (RTE) and non-RTE meats.

How many employees and how many inspectors are in this plant?

There are two inspectors that oversee operations at the establishment. There are approximately 90 employees that work over three shifts. For the exact number of employees, please contact Capital Packers Inc.

Does this plant ship internationally?

This company ships products nationally but does not export product to other countries.

Information on the recall

Why were products recalled?

Following the company's detection of Listeria monocytongenes in the plant's environment (on an employee's sleeve), the company decided to voluntarily recall product produced on a specific line as a precaution. The company and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regularly tests environmental and product samples as part of its regular inspection procedures. At this point, no product has tested positive for listeria.

How many products are being recalled?

Currently, the company is voluntarily recalling the following products as a precaution from one day of production:

  • Capital brand 300 gram ham sausages
  • Compliments brand 375 gram ham sausages.

Will there be additional recalls from this company?

As the CFIA's food safety investigation progresses, additional products may be identified and it is possible that this recall could be expanded.

Are there any illnesses associated with recalled product?

The CFIA continues to work in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on this investigation. PHAC is aware of this recall and indicated that there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Information on the suspension of the company's licence to operate

What is happening to product at the plant?

All products currently at this plant are under the CFIA's detention and control.

What are next steps at the plant?

As the CFIA's food safety investigation progresses, additional products may be identified and it is possible that this recall could be expanded.

Capital Packers Inc. will not be able to resume operations until they have fully addressed CFIA's corrective action requirements and the CFIA is fully confident in the plant's capacity to effectively manage food safety risks is demonstrated

In addition, work will be undertaken to examine where contamination may have occurred.

What led to the suspension?

The CFIA has determined that adequate controls for food safety are not being fully implemented in the facility and that the company has not been able to consistently comply with the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990. As a result the CFIA has taken precautionary measures of suspending the company's operating license.

When problems are found, companies are given deadlines, based on the seriousness of the problem, to implement corrective actions. In this case, the CFIA has issued a number of corrective action requests (CARs) based on regular inspection activities and has determined that the company has been unable to effectively demonstrate that it has the acceptable plans in place that address corrective action requests and respond to these issues over the longer-term. In particular, the company is unable to demonstrate that it has effective processes in place keep track of its production

This was observed recently during the CFIA's examination of documentation related to a positive listeria finding in the plant. This finding was not a food product, but what is referred to as an environmental finding. Such environmental detections are routine; however, the company was unable to accurately determine if potentially affected product produced on that day was under its control.

Initially, the company advised the CFIA that the products produced on the day of the positive environmental finding were under the company's control. However, validation activities conducted by the CFIA determined that product produced on the affected line may have been distributed to several provinces.

As a result, on November 22, within a few hours of determining that the operator had failed to take measures to correct deficiencies with their recall program, the CFIA delivered a notice of suspension to the operator.

When did the CFIA find out about this listeria situation?

The CFIA was notified on November 19, 2012, by Capital Packers Inc. that during routine environmental testing a sample from a food contact surface (an employee's sleeve) taken on November 7, 2012 tested positive for Listeria monocytongenes.

Initially, Capital Packers Inc. advised the CFIA that any products produced on November 7, 2012 that were associated with positive results were under the company's control. However, validation activities conducted by the CFIA have determined that product produced on the affected line may have been distributed to several provinces. As a result of this information, the company has voluntarily recalled product from this production date.

Was the sample tested in a CFIA laboratory?

The environmental sample was taken at the establishment and sent to a private accredited laboratory for testing using a regulatory analytical method. The result provided by the private laboratory to the establishment falls within the general service standard that would be seen in a CFIA laboratory.

Why did the company's testing - and not the CFIA's testing - catch this positive listeria sample?

Both the company and the CFIA conducted regular sampling and testing of products and the plant environment. All of the CFIA's tests were negative. Similarly, the company's product tests were negative. To date, the only positive sample detected was from an environmental sample (an employee's sleeve).

Was there a delay in the company notifying the CFIA of the positive detection?

The CFIA was notified as soon as the company received test results.

Once a sample is taken and received in the laboratory, it can take up to 11 days to confirm a positive result. There are steps that the laboratory must use to ensure that it meets regulatory requirements.

These steps include growth of bacteria and isolation of specific types of bacteria, which can take up to five days, and confirmation of results, which can take up to six days.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the CFIA has contacted the private laboratory to determine the precise sequence of events between the collection of the sample and when they informed Capital Packers Inc. of the positive sample.

The CFIA is also going through company records, specifically looking for any information that the company may possess on this issue.

Information on deficiencies identified by the CFIA

What is the compliance history of Capital Packers Inc? Has the plant had previous problems?

Yes, since April 1, 2012, the CFIA has issued eleven CARs to the company. Five of these CARs remain open. They will all be closed once the plant can demonstrate that it has the appropriate corrective action plans in place and that they are being effectively implemented. It is the CFIA's responsibility to determine if the plant has implemented the necessary corrective actions.

The company also had its license temporarily suspended in September, 2011 as a result of compliance issues related to ventilation and condensation and was reinstated a week later when the noted deficiency was corrected.

What types of problems were identified in the CARs issued to Capital Packers Inc?

Some issues relate to general sanitation andmaintenance-for example, building maintenance, ventilation and storage.

There were also a number of other CARs that relate to other deficiencies that include: the design of the plant's preventative food safety plan (known as a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points or HACCP plan), environmental sampling and a CAR related to company's recall program.

As per normal practice, the CFIA requires that the company take corrective action right away if any of the deficiencies identified in the CARs posed an immediate food safety risk.

Since April 1, 2012, the following CARs have been issued and closed at Capital Packers Inc.:

  • 231-2012-01 - Sanitation (issued on April 16, 2012 and closed on June 28, 2012)
  • 231-2012-02 - Ventilation - ready-to-eat (issued on July 16, 2012 and closed on September 2, 2012)
  • 231-2012-03 - Storage (issued on August 3, 2012 and closed on September 20, 2012)
  • 2310-2012-04 - Pre-operational sanitation on-site (issued on August 20, 2012 and closed on October 10, 2012)
  • 231-2012-05 - Storage (issued on August 21, 2012 and closed on October 18, 2012)
  • 231-2013-07 - Pre-operation sanitation and on-site -ready-to-eat (issued on September 26, 2012and closed on October 31, 2012)

There are five CARs that remain open:

  • 231-2012-06 - HACCP system design and reassessment (issued on September 7, 2012)
  • 231-2012-08 - Recall program (issued on October 4, 2012)
  • 231-2012-09 - Ventilation (issued on November 13, 2012)
  • 231-2012-10 - Transportation, purchasing, receiving and shipping (issued on November 13, 2012)
  • 231-2012-11 - Mandated environmental sampling of ready-to-eat food contact surfaces (issued on November 19, 2012)

They will all be closed once the plant can demonstrate that it has the appropriate corrective action plans in place and that they are being effectively implemented.

The Compliance Verification System (CVS)

If there have been problems at the plant, why did the CFIA wait to suspend the operating licence?

When an inspector identifies a product or process that is not in compliance with federal food standards, the nature of the issue identified will dictate the course of corrective action. Food safety issues are dealt with immediately. Other deviations to the applicable regulatory requirements or HACCP system are unacceptable and must be addressed by the company within a specific timeframe.

A CAR, is issued when a problem is identified. The CFIA requires that the plant operator commit to an action plan to fix the problem and prevent it from re-occurring. The CFIA also verifies that the operator's plan has been implemented appropriately. When the plan is not successful or when the operator is unwilling or unable to correct the problem, the CFIA pursues stronger enforcement options.

Prior to November 22, the CFIA identified deficiencies and the operator implemented corrective actions for identified deficiencies within the dates set forth by inspectors.

On November 22, within a few hours of determining that the operator had failed to take corrective measures to correct deficiencies with their recall program, the CFIA delivered a notice of suspension to the operator and issued a news release announcing the suspension.

Information on Canada's food safety and recall system

How does our food safety system compared to other countries?

Canada has one of the most stringent food safety systems in the world. Canada was ranked 4th overall (tied with U.S.) in the international food safety rankings of 17 countries in the 2010 Food Safety Performance World Ranking study of Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development countries. In fact, Canada was ranked first for its strong levels of clarity and stability of food recall regulations.

How does the recall system work?

Recall events are a routine, and essential, part of any effective food safety system.

A recall involves the removal of potentially unsafe products from the marketplace. Most recalls in Canada are voluntary, which means that the recalls are initiated and carried out by the responsible company. The CFIA works with the company to ensure that the public is informed and that the recall was effective at removing products from the market.

The Canadian Food Safety System: Food Recalls

How will the Safe Food for Canadians Act improve Canada's food safety system?

The Safe Food for Canadians Act will consolidate, harmonize, and modernize the authorities that the CFIA already has, as well as enhancing and adding authorities.

There are a number of authorities in the new Act that would strengthen CFIA's response to recall situations, such as the regulation-making authority for traceability. This will give CFIA the authority to require federally regulated establishments to keep records of who they distribute product to and who they receive product from.

The new Act also provides stronger authorities around the provision of documents by an operator in standard format and within set timeframes.

Is there a way to have recalls happen more quickly?

Recalls will continue to be an integral part of the food safety system. The recall for Capital Packers Inc. was issued immediately on November 22 upon confirmation of non-compliance.

CFIA has established procedures in place for monitoring and enforcing food safety requirements. CFIA identified that Capital Packers Inc. was not in compliance and took appropriate action.

The Safe Food for Canadians Act will help the CFIA more quickly identify potentially unsafe foods in the marketplace by ensuring that important documentations is made available immediately.