Whose minding the store?

[Topaz]

If the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Ag. Min. Gerry Ritz doesn't know how many inspectors there are , then how can anyone say that the meat in this country is being inspected correctly. Since this government has come to power, we've had more recalls of meat and a few people have died because of the lack of control over inspection, but it always seem the Tories are never to blame for any of the problems they create. I will say, a number of my friends have decided NOT to buy meat that the groceries stores, especially meat coming out Alberta and no cold meats. Instead, people are going to their local abattoir and buying it. By Ritz report, he says inspectors have many tasks to perform, so perhaps the solution is to hire more inspectors! http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Government+doesn+have+accurate+count+inspecting+meat/3566263/story.html

[Michael Hardner]

If the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Ag. Min. Gerry Ritz doesn't know how many inspectors there are , then how can anyone say that the meat in this country is being inspected correctly. Since this government has come to power, we've had more recalls of meat and a few people have died because of the lack of control over inspection, but it always seem the Tories are never to blame for any of the problems they create. I will say, a number of my friends have decided NOT to buy meat that the groceries stores, especially meat coming out Alberta and no cold meats. Instead, people are going to their local abattoir and buying it. By Ritz report, he says inspectors have many tasks to perform, so perhaps the solution is to hire more inspectors! http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Government+doesn+have+accurate+count+inspecting+meat/3566263/story.html

Wow. That's pretty dismal. I wouldn't put the blame at the feet of the Conservatives, solely but they should be taking steps to improve this situation at a minimum.

Looking up Gerry Ritz, while he does have a background in agriculture, the downside is he hasn't worked in large operations outside of politics and even made some jokes in poor taste during a listerosis outbreak.

[Alta4ever]

If the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Ag. Min. Gerry Ritz doesn't know how many inspectors there are , then how can anyone say that the meat in this country is being inspected correctly. Since this government has come to power, we've had more recalls of meat and a few people have died because of the lack of control over inspection, but it always seem the Tories are never to blame for any of the problems they create. I will say, a number of my friends have decided NOT to buy meat that the groceries stores, especially meat coming out Alberta and no cold meats. Instead, people are going to their local abattoir and buying it. By Ritz report, he says inspectors have many tasks to perform, so perhaps the solution is to hire more inspectors! http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Government+doesn+have+accurate+count+inspecting+meat/3566263/story.html

I hope your local supplier has lots of tin foil, you seem to go through an awful lot of it.

[g_bambino]

I hope your local supplier has lots of tin foil, you seem to go through an awful lot of it.

But whose [sic] inspecting it?

[Alta4ever]

But whose [sic] inspecting it?

This will make topaz really sick! I eat un-inspected meat.

[Wild Bill]

This will make topaz really sick! I eat un-inspected meat.

I worked with a guy once who was an avid hunter. He took home a lot of venison and such for his family. He refused to feed them store-bought meat, as he was convinced it was full of chemicals and additives that weren't good for them!

Apparently, Topaz is perfectly happy with the store-bought meat...

[Topaz]

Are you guys done having your fun?? This is a serious topic because 22 people did die under THIS government not doing its duty to the people of Canada. IF Ritz can't do this job then HE should be replaced before another 22 people die. As far as myself, I buy local from farmers who grass fed their animals and the meat IS inspected or the abattoir would be able to sell it.

[Alta4ever]

Are you guys done having your fun?? This is a serious topic because 22 people did die under THIS government not doing its duty to the people of Canada. IF Ritz can't do this job then HE should be replaced before another 22 people die. As far as myself, I buy local from farmers who grass fed their animals and the meat IS inspected or the abattoir would be able to sell it.

In 2006 there were 2889 deaths due to traffic accidents, who topaz should lose there job over that stat? Should the transport minister be replaced?

[Michael Hardner]

In 2006 there were 2889 deaths due to traffic accidents, who topaz should lose there job over that stat? Should the transport minister be replaced?

Wow. I didn't realize you were such an apologist for government stupidity. I guess if we have 2888 deaths due to food poisoning, then we're fine ?

If it's any comfort, it's likely that most of this damage occurred under previous governments. Will you dare to criticize them now ?

[Alta4ever]

Wow. I didn't realize you were such an apologist for government stupidity. I guess if we have 2888 deaths due to food poisoning, then we're fine ?

If it's any comfort, it's likely that most of this damage occurred under previous governments. Will you dare to criticize them now ?

my point is that nothing is 100% safe. No amount of government inspection will ever change that, why do people have problems grasping this concept?

[Michael Hardner]

my point is that nothing is 100% safe. No amount of government inspection will ever change that, why do people have problems grasping this concept?

I agree, but the goal is still 100% safety, no matter how unattainable that is. The realistic goal is constant improvement.

I think that the fact that the agency has no idea how many inspectors they have indicates that they are incompetent. What do you think ?

[Shwa]

I agree, but the goal is still 100% safety, no matter how unattainable that is. The realistic goal is constant improvement.

I think that the fact that the agency has no idea how many inspectors they have indicates that they are incompetent. What do you think ?

It appears to be worse than a little ol' ham sandwhich:

Imported food not up to Canadian standards: Report

“In a place like China, we can’t even get legitimate stats from them in terms of internal disease and pest spread,” said Bob Kingston, head of the union that represents federal food inspectors.

“Our inspectors have a hard time putting a lot of stock into what they read coming out of some of those countries, just because they know that the conditions are very largely unreported over there.

Which, considering the leaning of this thread, is a little ironic.

I am not advocating panophobia, but be careful what eat because it is out to get you.

[Keepitsimple]

Are you guys done having your fun?? This is a serious topic because 22 people did die under THIS government not doing its duty to the people of Canada. IF Ritz can't do this job then HE should be replaced before another 22 people die. As far as myself, I buy local from farmers who grass fed their animals and the meat IS inspected or the abattoir would be able to sell it.

I guess you might have a point.......but only if you can tell us if 22 deaths are out of the ordinary. The Conservatives have been in power for almost 5 years. Do you happen to know how many people died from tainted meat in the previous 5 years?

In the US, deaths from Listeriosis average 2.5 - 3 per million people. Assuming Canada's rates are similar, that would put our annual deaths somewhere close to 100 every year.....and if that's not the case, then Canada's inspection process is running circles around that of the US. The Maple Leaf food incident was a tragedy.....but given the context that I've provided, surely you can see that politics are indeed at work here.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listeriosis

Edited September 24, 2010 by Keepitsimple

[GostHacked]

The way we mass produce and distribute meat and all products is mind blowing. The chances for something to go wrong with meat is very very high if proper conditions are not met to store/transport meat. The company I work for has meat inspectors everywhere. We have one full time in each of the distro centers that carry meat. There are even inspectors who travel around to the stores to ensure it is safe.

If there are a shortage of inspectors how do you expect the job to get done? If there are a shortage of inspectors how much confidence do you put into the food that you are buying/eating? If the government can't tell you how safe the food is, what do you do about it?

What if the MapleLeaf listerios issue was not found?

[Michael Hardner]

I guess you might have a point.......but only if you can tell us if 22 deaths are out of the ordinary. The Conservatives have been in power for almost 5 years. Do you happen to know how many people died from tainted meat in the previous 5 years?

In the US, deaths from Listeriosis average 2.5 - 3 per million people. Assuming Canada's rates are similar, that would put our annual deaths somewhere close to 100 every year.....and if that's not the case, then Canada's inspection process is running circles around that of the US. The Maple Leaf food incident was a tragedy.....but given the context that I've provided, surely you can see that politics are indeed at work here.

That would be 75-90 people approximately ?

Hmmm... let's see - as a consumer of Canadian government health inspection *services*, I expect:

- published standards

- frequent and easy to access, and easy to read reports

- 3rd party monitoring

- listing of costs

Kind of like healthcare, if we don't demand that government performs then it will not perform and we will be left with jokers in cabinet....

[Alta4ever]

Wow, you would have thought that our parents, grand parents, great grand parents, and so on never would have never survived with out the government agencies of today looking out for them.

I'm sure with attitude of some on this board we would have rubber inspectors that the government would require inspection of the "installation" immediately before use.

Edited September 25, 2010 by Alta4ever

[Jack Weber]

Wow. I didn't realize you were such an apologist for government stupidity. I guess if we have 2888 deaths due to food poisoning, then we're fine ?

If it's any comfort, it's likely that most of this damage occurred under previous governments. Will you dare to criticize them now ?

It's not stupidity to Albertans....

It's called deregulation coupled with free market principles....

Ah..The "sanity" that is Alberta.....

Edited September 26, 2010 by Jack Weber