Robert and Margaret Smith have been running a honeybee operation in the province since 1977 and have been taking advantage of Growing Forward 2’s On-Farm Food Safety and Animal Welfare program since its inception nearly 10 years ago.

On-farm cost-sharing program quickly taken up by producers

Farmers say the program has helped them to keep operations up-to-date and more able to adapt

Manitoba farmers are giving a program aimed at improving on-farm food safety and animal welfare a strong passing grade. Producers who have participated in Growing Forward 2’s On-Farm Food Safety and Animal Welfare say they’d do it again, noting it cost shares improvements that help farmers. “If you have the chance to get involved with

The CFIA spends much of its time and budget on inspection and regulation of meat-processing plants.

Action finally in sight on CFIA modernization

Changes were first promised more than five years ago 
but were derailed by a federal election

After a five-year gestation period, proposed changes to modernize the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are about to arrive at the delivery room. Speaking to the annual meeting of the Canadian Meat Council, Health Minister Jane Philpott said publication of the changes in the Canada Gazette is imminent. The government publishes proposed regulatory changes in Part


(Fonterra.com)

China busts gang selling expired dairy products

Shanghai/Wellington | Reuters — Chinese police have arrested 19 people for repackaging and selling expired dairy products originally from New Zealand giant Fonterra Co-Operative Group, a Shanghai regulator said on Monday, the latest food scare to hit the country. The bust, which initially took place in March, uncovered the gang who had cut 276 tons

Manitoba’s chief public health inspector says community suppers have a good food safety track record and new guidelines will help make the standards clear to organizers.

New guidelines for community suppers published

Manitoba’s chief public health inspector hopes to silence the critics 
who say food safety rules are too prohibitive

A new provincial guideline for safe food preparation at community dinners should help their hosts know what the public health inspector expects, says the province’s chief public health inspector. He also hopes the Community Dinner Guidelines now posted on Manitoba Health’s website, helps allay concerns that public health inspectors’ food safety requirements are making it


Irradiated ground beef, such as these burger patties, is expected to have a lower potential presence of harmful pathogens such as E. coli.

NFU opposes ground beef irradiation

Irradiation will allow large companies to benefit from regulation and puts up another barrier to smaller packers, the NFU says

The National Farmers Union says Health Canada should kibosh its proposal to allow irradiation of ground beef and improve meat inspection instead. The department should also establish “appropriate and effective regulations that will support a diversified, regional food-processing strategy,” the NFU said. “These actions would increase Canadians’ confidence in meat packers to provide them with

Men standing in field

Canadian farmers can’t ignore public engagement

More than 93 per cent of Canadians admit to knowing little or nothing about how their food is produced

Have you heard the new buzzwords for farming and food? One is “social licence,” followed very closely by another, “sustainability.” These are not new to other sectors, but seemed to have taken those who farm or produce food in this country by surprise. Are Canadian farmers really in danger of losing their social licence to


Industry applauds Canada-U.S. food safety deal but seeks details

The agreement covers existing programs, but both countries are in the process of developing new standards

Food that’s safe in Canada is now also considered safe in the U.S. and vice versa. That’s the bottom line after Canada and the United States have signed a food safety recognition agreement. It formally states the existing food safety systems of the two nations provide similar levels of protection to consumers. Farm and food

Erin Gobeil (l) and Ashley Sadler (r), Global Market co-ordinators are looking forward to the coming farmers’ market season, which will begin in Brandon in late May.

Brush up on regulations to ensure a smooth market season

Do you know what is required when selling your product at the local farmers’ market?

Looking to offer up some products at the local farmers’ market this season? Best brush up on provincial regulations. “Farmers’ markets in our province continue to grow every year,” said Mike LeBlanc, chief public health inspector with Manitoba Health. “And when consumers go to a farmers’ market they expect safe, healthy and fresh products.” LeBlanc


(Todd Rosenberg photo via KraftFoodsGroup.com)

Canada, U.S. to collaborate on food safety controls

Food safety officials in Canada and the U.S. have formally recognized each other’s respective food safety controls under a cross-border co-operation pact. The two countries last week announced their new food safety systems recognition arrangement, reached during meetings of the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Co-operation Council (RCC) held Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, D.C. The two countries

Massive CFIA regulatory overhaul back in gear

Mandate letters for ministers stress food safety, making move no surprise, say industry insiders

Redrafting the regulatory powers of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is back on the front burner after being set to simmer during the 2015 federal election. Food industry insiders like Albert Chambers, executive director of the Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition, say they’ve been told to expect to see movement soon. The former government