Press Room
Food Safety – how safe is the consumer?
Ottawa, August 26th, 2008 –
The massive recall of ready-to-eat meats contaminated by the bacteria listeria monocytogenes made by Maple Leaf Foods Inc at its Toronto processing plant should make government and consumers sit up and take notice says Option consommateurs, the Montreal and Ottawa-based consumer rights organisation.
Consumers have been receiving mixed messages from government on the issue of food and product safety says Option Consommateurs, Head of Ottawa Office, Anu Bose. On one hand, the government has introduced Bill C-52: An Act Respecting the Safety of Consumer Products in this session giving the Minister of Health and designated expanded powers to issue mandatory recall orders for consumer products and a new penalty and compliance regime which Option Consommateurs has supported and continues to support. On the other hand, there are persistent rumours of ‘internal documents’ which speak of letting industry police itself downgrading Canada Food Inspection Agency’s role from inspection to audit.
In the face of a rising death toll and the government predicting an even grimmer scenario, Option consommateurs is calling on the government to take a pro-active stance on food and product safety: first by unequivocally stating its commitment to the health and safety of consumers and dispelling all rumours of a greater role for industry in the food and product safety inspection process. Secondly, the government must publicly commit more resources to creating an effective prevention system especially by improving traceability and record-keeping so that consumer confidence in Canadian food products can be restored.
Option consommateurs is a not-for-profit association whose mission is to promote and defend the basic rights of consumers and ensure that they are recognized and respected. Founded in 1983, it has engaged in over thirty class action suits and is active in such areas as energy, agrofood, financial services, and commercial practices.
Anu Bose PhD
Head, Ottawa Office
Option consommateurs
613 244-2111
Consumers have been receiving mixed messages from government on the issue of food and product safety says Option Consommateurs, Head of Ottawa Office, Anu Bose. On one hand, the government has introduced Bill C-52: An Act Respecting the Safety of Consumer Products in this session giving the Minister of Health and designated expanded powers to issue mandatory recall orders for consumer products and a new penalty and compliance regime which Option Consommateurs has supported and continues to support. On the other hand, there are persistent rumours of ‘internal documents’ which speak of letting industry police itself downgrading Canada Food Inspection Agency’s role from inspection to audit.
In the face of a rising death toll and the government predicting an even grimmer scenario, Option consommateurs is calling on the government to take a pro-active stance on food and product safety: first by unequivocally stating its commitment to the health and safety of consumers and dispelling all rumours of a greater role for industry in the food and product safety inspection process. Secondly, the government must publicly commit more resources to creating an effective prevention system especially by improving traceability and record-keeping so that consumer confidence in Canadian food products can be restored.
Option consommateurs is a not-for-profit association whose mission is to promote and defend the basic rights of consumers and ensure that they are recognized and respected. Founded in 1983, it has engaged in over thirty class action suits and is active in such areas as energy, agrofood, financial services, and commercial practices.
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For more information, please contact:
Anu Bose PhD
Head, Ottawa Office
Option consommateurs
613 244-2111
