Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC) has become the fourth commodity group to receive full recognition for its on-farm food safety program from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Chicken Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada and CanadaGAP on behalf of fruit and vegetable producers have already received the designation.

“This recognition represents the culmination of the work of the TFC board of directors, the boards of directors in the TFC eight member provinces across the country, and Canadian turkey farmers,” said Darren Ference, TFC chair.

“Consumers can trust that our high-quality Canadian turkey is produced through stringent standards,” he said. “Our systemic and preventive approach to food safety is based on internationally accepted standards and conforms to federal, provincial and territorial legislation, policy and protocols.”

CFIA said, “In completing the recognition process, the TFC has demonstrated a strong ongoing commitment to working with federal and provincial governments to produce the safest, highest-quality turkey products possible.”

Twelve other commodity groups include cattle, pork, eggs, veal, sheep and honey as well as the Canada Grains Council and the Canadian Trucking Alliance are working on achieving full compliance under the program. The program’s goal is safeguarding Canada’s food supply while continuing to boost consumer confidence and international acceptance of Canadian products.

CFIA said the recognition serves as a formal declaration that the TFC on-farm food safety program is “technically sound in that it promotes the production of safe food at the farm level and adheres to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles.

“It also supports the effective implementation, administration, delivery and maintenance of this technically sound food safety program,” CFIA said. “This recognition is important to turkey farmers, because more than ever, consumers want to know how their food is produced,” said Ference. “We’re proud to demonstrate our high standards.”

CanadaGAP received its designation last September for demonstrating the more than 3,000 companies in the horticulture sector registered with the organization had implemented effective preventive controls, including requirements for growing, harvesting and packing fresh produce for interprovincial trade or export.

“The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is proud to be working side by side with industry partners to enhance food safety for Canadian families from farm to fork,” said Lyzette Lamondin, CFIA’s executive director, food safety and consumer protection.