Questions and Answers – Re-opening of XL Foods Inc.
How long will the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) continue its enhanced oversight?
There is no timeline when it comes to ensuring consumer safety. The CFIA will take as long as is necessary to confirm that the plant's strengthened food safety controls are effectively integrated into daily plant practices.
What if more problems are found during this period of enhanced oversight?
The CFIA will monitor plant operations extremely closely. The CFIA will immediately halt operations if inspectors note any concerns with the facility's food safety controls during the enhanced inspection period. The plant will only then be allowed to operate once the deficiencies have been corrected to the satisfaction of CFIA inspectors.
If the number of inspectors at the plant is adequate, why is the enhanced inspection team staying on site?
The facility has an appropriate number of daily inspectors. Two additional CFIA inspection resources - beyond the 46 normally assigned full-time to the plant - will remain at the facility in the short term to perform enhanced oversight activities until the CFIA has confidence that the company's strengthened food safety controls are effectively integrated into daily plant practices.
What activities are carried out under enhanced oversight?
Until the CFIA is satisfied that the company is implementing its food safety controls effectively on a daily basis, the Agency is:
- deploying two additional inspection resources who will focus on more oversight of E. coli controls, sanitation and general food hygiene (this is in addition to the 40 inspectors and six veterinarians already working full-time in the plant);
- increasing frequency of monitoring of critical control points;
- verifying that corrective actions continue to be effectively implemented;
- increasing sampling and testing by the CFIA; and,
- detaining product until the CFIA has determined that plant controls are effectively and consistently managing E. coli risks.
During this time, the Agency will stop operations at any point if concerns are identified.
How will the CFIA increase inspection activities?
During the period of enhanced oversight, CFIA inspectors will increase the frequency with which they observe plant personnel carry out specific aspects of the company's food safety plan at key stages of operations where there is a risk of E. coli O157:H7 contamination, including:
- slaughtering;
- de-hiding;
- cutting;
- de-boning;
- sanitizing equipment; and,
- sampling for E. coli O157:H7 testing.
For each stage of production, more frequent inspection tasks will be undertaken to provide intensified oversight. These tasks will be completed at least once a day, over and above regular inspection tasks.
For example, inspection staff will oversee the company's E. coli O157:H7 results at least once a day. Under normal circumstances, this task is completed once a week. Similarly, inspectors will closely observe de-hiding procedures at least once a day, rather than once a month.
These increased inspection tasks will help to provide extra assurance that the company's food safety measures are being implemented consistently and effectively.
How will the CFIA heighten testing for E. coli O157:H7 during this period of enhanced oversight?
Daily CFIA sampling and testing will be carried out for the entire period of enhanced oversight. Heightened CFIA sampling and testing will be over and above internationally accepted protocols for a range of meat products.
No product will enter the marketplace until the CFIA has reviewed E. coli O157:H7 test results.
This enhanced sampling and testing will continue until the CFIA is fully satisfied that effective controls to manage food safety risks at all stages of production are in place and working.
What will the CFIA do if E. coli O157:H7 is found at XL Foods Inc. again if the plant resumes normal operations?
The detection of E. coli O157:H7 in slaughter facilities is not uncommon. What is important is that companies have adequate food safety control measures in place and are implementing them affectively to mitigate risk.
Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc., is being allowed to reopen because the CFIA is confident that food safety controls are being implemented properly at this facility as observed during the limited operations of de-boning and cutting of carcasses. The CFIA will maintain an enhanced presence to ensure that these same practices are occurring during slaughter and on a daily basis. If food safety issues are identified in the future, the CFIA will immediately halt operations.
Has Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc., had compliance issues in the past? Has this plant had more problems than other plants of comparable size and type?
XL Foods Inc. is a high-volume plant that slaughters about 4,000 cows per day. Given the size of the plant, it is expected that deficiencies will be identified by the CFIA from time to time.
Forty-seven CARs of varying degrees of importance have been issued to this plant since 2009 (including the six issued as a result of the CFIA's in-depth review). This is not unusual for a plant of this size. It's important to note that all of these issues have been corrected in an appropriate manner. Any relating to food safety were addressed immediately.
Have all the CARs issued to Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc. this year been corrected?
Yes, all of the CARs have been addressed. The CARs issued as a result of the in-depth review have been addressed or have an acceptable written corrective action plan. They will all be closed once the plant resumes operations and demonstrates that action plan is being effectively implemented.
In light of this recall, will the CFIA apply enhanced oversight at all plants?
Canada's food safety system is recognized as among the best in the world. The level of inspection is based on internationally recognized protocol and the CFIA is confident that federally registered facilities in Canada are appropriately staffed.
As a responsible, science-based regulator, the CFIA regularly reviews its policies and procedures to ensure they are aligned with current science and best practices.
Does the decision by JBS USA to take over management of Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc., have an impact on the CFIA's inspection activities at the plant?
No. Any change in management or ownership does not affect our ability to act in the best interest of Canadians. The CFIA's decisions have and will continue to be based on scientific evidence and a precautionary approach to protect consumers.
How can the CFIA thoroughly inspect a plant that has such a high line speed?
The number of cattle being processed at Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc., is consistent with other large operations in Canada.
The CFIA assigns inspection staff according to a national standard that is based on a number of factors, including the size and type of operation. This standard specifies the minimum number of inspectors and veterinarians that must be present at all federally registered slaughter establishments across Canada.
Based on this criteria, the current number of inspectors (40) and veterinarians (six) assigned to Establishment 38 is an appropriate number.
More information on this standard is available in Chapter 17 of the Meat Hygiene Manual of Procedures.
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