Buckdog

Actually, Mapleleaf Foods goes way beyond the quality control and production standards that the FCIA requires.

Over a week ago, when the CFIA contact MLF about the possible link between their products and the listera (sp) outbreak, CFIA required MLF to do two Class One recalles.

MLF, chose to do an addition 21 recalls (Class Two) on all products from that plant on the production days that the two products were made.

MLF also chose to close the plant and did a complete dis-assembly of the two production lines for a complete cleaning. The brought in a third party to audit the process. None of this is required under CFIA CLASS ONE recalls.

Since this time, the CFIA as positively linked the MFL products to the outbreak. As a result MLF as chose to recall all the products from this entire plant, all production lines, that have been produced this year for destruction.

As a side note, Micheal McCain does not agree with the Harper Government's idea on de-regularization of food production industry.

MLF production standards are way above what is required by the CFIA, and stuff like this still happens. Where the real danger is, is in the smaller companies that only follow the bare minimum requirements or fail to meet them at all. MLF is actually very responsible in this regard because they know their reputation is all they have to sell their products in the market place.

The initial class one recall would have cost MLF about a half million dollars, now they are voluntarily doing 20 million dollar recall.

Harper's idea of self regulation is disaster in the making and MLF has said so publicly.

Just an FYI.

To amplify on zorpheous' statement:

One need only look at what happened in Ontario in 2003 and the very lax attitude of meat inspectors in the province because most of them had been laid off.

The standards of diligence of inspection fell and the province paid for it.

Nobody wanted Ontario meats for a long time.

Mix in to that the downer and deadstock cattle at the abattoirs and you have a human health equivalent of a China syndrome.

In the ensuing weeks, there was a major power failure and after that Ernie Eves tried to look presidential and we were having none of it.

What Harris/Eves/Flaherty/Baird/Clement did provincially is what Harper and Co. are trying to do to the country.

What's for dinner tonight?
Preferably roast Harper hog with an apple stuck in its mouth!

I'm just champing at the bit for an election.