Federal meat inspectors play a vital role in Canada’s food safety inspection system.  They ensure that all standards and proper testing are upheld to minimize potential risk in our food chain.

Yesterday at the on-going hearings of the Parliamentary Sub-committee on Food Safety, the head of the Agriculture Union, Bob Kingston, recommended for more inspectors and better training. Maple Leaf also believes in strong regulation and for higher government standards which I communicated when I  appeared at the hearings last month.

It is essential that government ensure there are enough resources, including inspectors, to consistently enforce compliance with regulations and tough penalties for companies that don’t comply with the rules. We also recommended that most resources should be directed to environmental testing and monitoring and analyzing those test results as it relates to Listeria.

There is no single silver bullet solution to strengthen Canada’s food safety system.  It will take great effort from industry and government to raise the bar in setting higher food safety standards in Canada that protect the interests of Canadians but I am pleased that an open dialogue is underway in Ottawa.

While the use of reusable cloth bags is quickly becoming the ‘norm’ when grocery shopping and is an excellent way to reduce our impact on the environment, there are health and safety concerns to consider.

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association recently performed a random analysis of reusable cloth shopping bags and found that over 30% of the bags contained unsafe levels of harmful bacteria and 40% of the bags had yeast or mould.  Surprising results from an eco-friendly carrying bag that only a few years ago many people would not have considered using.

The good news is that it’s easily preventable.  Simply make a habit of regularly washing your reusable cloth bags, especially those used to transport meat and other perishable food items.  Make sure meat is wrapped tightly with no rips or holes in the packaging to prevent leakage and keep microorganisms at bay.  Another good practice is to make grocery shopping the last errand before you head home so you can store perishable food items in the refrigerator or freezer within two hours of purchase to limit exposure to higher temperatures where harmful bacteria can multiply rapidly.

 Its official- BBQ season is here!

With the beginning of long weekend season and the BBQs heating up I thought I would take this opportunity to remind you of some food safety tips for warm weather dining.

Warmer , seasonal,  temperatures can affect foods  during preparation, holding, cooking and service, so  special attention is required to make sure food is safe.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when  prepping, cooking and serving food:

• Always wash your hands with soap and  warm water before handling food  and during any new stage from preparation to service. 
• Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.  Avoid the temperature danger zone (4 C/40F to 60C/140F).  Do not leave the food out for more than two hours in the temperature danger zone. 
• Do not let foods linger during preparation – cook them thoroughly and serve them quickly.  Keep hot foods hot with warming trays or crock pots.   
• Keep raw meat  separated from cooked meat  and ready to eat foods.   When you are carrying meat to the BBQ, bring an extra plate for the cooked meat. 
•  When frozen food, such as meat is thawed, cook immediately after thawing. Allow sufficient time for food to defrost properly.
• Cook meat thouroughly.  You cannot tell when meat is done by simply looking at the colour of the meat or juices, so use a food thermometer to check. 
•  Platters with vegetables, dips, cheeses, and deli meats should be kept fresh and safe by keeping the platter  chilled on  ice.  Replace containers of dips and other foods,  do not replenish  them.    

•  Use  chilled  leftovers within four days for best quality or freeze  them immediately  for later use. Reheat   leftovers to at least 74°C or 165°F until “steaming” hot.

 Enjoy your long weekend!