Dec 14, 2024, 12:00 PM
Dec 14, 2024, 12:00 PM

Three people dead after Canada fails to prevent listeria outbreak

Tragic
Highlights
  • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency failed to conduct regular inspections at the Joriki facility before June 26, 2024.
  • Despite claiming to have monitoring programs in place, Joriki did not share crucial test results with the CFIA.
  • The lack of oversight has led to serious public health consequences, highlighting the urgent need for reforms in Canada's food safety systems.
Story

In Canada, a serious lapse in food safety oversight resulted in a listeria outbreak that affected many individuals, leading to serious health consequences and even fatalities. The outbreak was linked to Joriki's Pickering facility, which had not been inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) since before June 26, 2024. The CFIA's regulations indicated that facilities with a Priority 3 ranking, like Joriki's, should receive in-person inspections at least once yearly. However, due to the agency's prioritization process, many plants, including Joriki’s, went unchecked for extended periods. The situation escalated despite Joriki claiming it had a monitoring program in place for listeria, which included conducting swabbing on its production line and testing finished products. However, the results from these tests were not disclosed to the CFIA or the public. Furthermore, an investigation revealed that the monitoring practices were, in fact, not sufficiently rigorous or consistent with federal guidelines, leading to significant oversights. In light of prior similar outbreaks, especially with Canada's worst listeria crisis in 2008 resulting in 24 deaths, the continuous underperformance of the CFIA raises serious questions about accountability and the effectiveness of self-regulation in the food industry. Many in the public health arena argue that increased oversight is essential, as alarming gaps exist in the inspection process. The implications of not acting on these challenges could lead to a repeat of past tragedies. Authorities have acknowledged problems with the oversight algorithms used by the CFIA, which did not compel them to inspect lower-priority facilities thoroughly. This gap in the safety net has amplified concerns, particularly amongst health advocates and food-safety experts, who stress the necessity of routine inspections to ensure that companies adhere to federal food safety regulations. Inadequate policing of self-regulation results in dangerous realities for Canadian consumers as pathogenic bacteria like listeria monocytogenes go unchecked.

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