The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says that the company responsible for a nation-wide beef recall wasn’t doing everything as it should.
The CFIA says that it’s not uncommon to find traces of E. coli bacteria inside slaughterhouses, but it’s the facility’s responsibility to monitor levels and do something if they begin to get too high.
The agency says that XL Foods didn’t always complete its “E. coli trend analysis” consistently and at times deviated from its specified E. coli control measures.
However, the federal organization itself is facing some pressure after it was revealed that there was a two week delay to issue a public health alert after they discovered contaminated beef.
The review did not identify one single factor that would have led to E.coli contamination, but said a combination of several deficiencies -- which individually wouldn't have signalled immediate concern -- could have played a role.
In reaction to the recall, XL says they have developed a new response plan and the CFIA will oversee its implementation.
The recall affects ground beef sold by Sobeys, Foodland, IGA, and Douglas Meats stores in the Prairie provinces, Ontario, the Maritimes and some Big Way and Super A stores.
It also includes unlabeled ground beef products sold between Aug. 24 through Sept. 16, at stores which may include small retailers, local meat markets and butcher shops.
The agency says it continues to identify additional products affected by the recall and is conducting checks to make sure they are removed from store shelves.
The CFIA is advising consumers who are unsure if they have the affected product to check with the stores where they purchased the beef, or simply throw it out.
With files from CTVNews.ca
