XL Foods beef plant resumes processing to test mandated changes

Friday, October 12, 2012

by SUSAN MANN

XL Foods Inc. workers can now start cutting and further processing the beef carcasses still in the Brooks, Alberta facility that Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspectors tested and found negative for E. coli 0157:H7, but none of the meat can leave the plant yet.

And it isn’t known now when the plant can begin receiving cattle again or export meat.  

Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, CFIA executive director of western operations, says the agency’s inspectors will carefully observe the plant’s food safety controls in action. “All operations will take place under enhanced inspection conditions and CFIA oversight.” The agency will immediately suspend operations if inspectors note any concerns with the facility’s food safety practices.

During a technical briefing for reporters Thursday, Kochhar says the meat being processed starting Thursday will remain under CFIA detention until the agency has confirmed in writing to federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz that the plant controls are effectively and consistently managing the E. coli risk.
 
Similarly the plant can’t resume normal operations “until the CFIA confirms in writing that it is safe to do so,” Kochhar says. There isn’t a timeline for when that will happen. “The CFIA will take as long as is necessary to confirm the safety of XL Foods practices during the next stage.”

There are about 5,100 carcasses still in the plant that were tested for E. coli and 99 per cent of them tested negative, he says. The carcasses that tested positive will be destroyed.

There are 40 CFIA inspectors and six veterinarians at the plant currently. They will be joined by two additional inspectors who will focus on oversight of E. coli controls, such as sanitation and general hygiene, as part of the agency’s enhanced inspection of the plant, Kochhar says. The enhanced inspection, including increased frequency of monitoring critical control points, will stay in place until CFIA is satisfied the company has effective food safety controls in place at all stages of production.

The CFIA suspended the plant’s operating license Sept. 27. It remains suspended until XL Foods has demonstrated it has fully implemented the agency’s required corrective actions. Prior to that the company recalled beef products produced at the plant on Aug. 24, 27, 28, 29 and Sept. 5 after the discovery that they could be tainted with E. coli. The recall was first issued Sept. 16. Since then the list of products recalled has expanded several times.

The company’s limited ability to resume some operations now is the next step in a multi-stage assessment process of its Brooks plant, says Kochhar.

Earlier this week, CFIA inspectors did a rigorous review of XL Foods’ facility, in particular evaluating the company’s progress in addressing previously identified food safety, maintenance and sanitation deficiencies, Kochhar says.

The CFIA team verified the plant has been appropriately cleaned and sanitized, he notes, adding XL Foods has also fixed specific maintenance matters including condensation, drainage problems and ice buildup on freezer doors. CFIA inspectors also reviewed and assessed the company’s E. coli corrective action plan.

The plan appears to be comprehensive and appropriate on paper but “we need to confirm its full implementation and effectiveness in action,” he says.

There are 12 cases of illness across Canada linked to products from XL Foods but none of them are in Ontario.BF