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

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.

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