Authors: Rajić, Andrijana¹; Waddell, Lisa A.¹; Sargeant, Jan M.²; Read, Susan¹; Farber, Jeff³; Firth, Martin J.⁴; Chambers, Albert⁵

Source: Journal of Food Protection®, Volume 70, Number 5, May 2007 , pp. 1286-1294(9)

Publisher: International Association for Food Protection

Abstract:

Canada's vision for the agri-food industry in the 21st century is the establishment of a national food safety system employing hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) principles and microbiological verification tools, with traceability throughout the gate-to-plate continuum. Voluntary on-farm food safety (OFFS) programs, based in part on HACCP principles, provide producers with guidelines for good production practices focused on general hygiene and biosecurity. OFFS programs in beef cattle, swine, and poultry are currently being evaluated through a national recognition program of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Mandatory HACCP programs in federal meat facilities include microbial testing for generic Escherichia coli to verify effectiveness of the processor's dressing procedure, specific testing of ground meat for E. coli O157:H7, with zero tolerance for this organism in the tested lot, and Salmonella testing of raw products. Health Canada's policy on Listeria monocytogenes divides ready-to-eat products into three risk categories, with products previously implicated as the source of an outbreak receiving the highest priority for inspection and compliance. A national mandatory identification program to track livestock from the herd of origin to carcass inspection has been established. Can-Trace, a data standard for all food commodities, has been designed to facilitate tracking foods from the point of origin to the consumer. Although much work has already been done, a coherent national food safety strategy and concerted efforts by all stakeholders are needed to realize this vision. Cooperation of many government agencies with shared responsibility for food safety and public health will be essential.

Document Type: Review article

Affiliations: 1: Policy Advice and Effectiveness Program, Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, 160 Research Lane, Unit 206, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2, Canada 2: Policy Advice and Effectiveness Program, Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, 160 Research Lane, Unit 206, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2, Canada; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 3: Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada, Frederick G. Banting Building, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada 4: Food Safety Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1Y9, Canada 5: Monachus Consulting, 19 Elm Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6M9, Canada

Publication date: 2007-05-01

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  First published in 1937, the Journal of Food Protection^®, is a refereed monthly publication. Each issue contains scientific research and authoritative review articles reporting on a variety of topics in food science pertaining to food safety and quality. The Journal is internationally recognized as the leading publication in the field of food microbiology with a readership exceeding 11,000 scientists from 70 countries. The Journal of Food Protection^® is indexed in Index Medicus, Current Contents, BIOSIS, PubMed, Medline, and many others.
  
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