Confusion around CFIA budget cuts

Budget cuts at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency won’t weaken food safety protection, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “Food safety is a priority for this government,” Ritz told the Commons agriculture committee, adding a big chunk of the planned cost cutting will come from the winding down of the listeria inquiry into the 2008 tainted

The Ultimate Hit List — The Top 100 Food Crops

Picking the world’s most important food crops is no small feat, given tastes differ around the world and there are many ways to measure value. But Ernest Small had one fundamental criteria in mind when he wroteTop 100 Food Plants: The World’s Most Important Culinary Crops. “Obviously, we can rank them on a dollar-value basis,


Does Canada Need A National Food Standard?

One re commenda -tion flowing from a Commons subcommittee report that resonates with the food industry is the need for a national food inspection standard. Michael McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods and the face of food safety these days, says, “All food for sale in Canada, whether it is produced in federally

CFIA, union butt heads on food safety

ottawa The Canadian Food Inspection Union and one of its main unions are again butting heads over food safety. The quarrel started back in the summer when the two sides were in contract negotiations and the disagreement escalated during the Maple Leaf listeria outbreak. The Agriculture Union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada wants


Listeria inquiry may become CFIA review

“It will be hard to do anything of substance that fast.” – FOOD LAWYER RONALD DOERING As concerns about listeria and other food safety issues percolated through the Oct. 14 election campaign, federal officials tried to find candidates to head an inquiry promised by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The appointment i sn’t expected until after