Press Room
No food recall poses health risk
Option consommateurs asks Agriculture Minister to intervene
Montréal, March 11th, 2010 –
Option consommateurs is concerned over the decision by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to authorize the sale of potentially contaminated food and has asked federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz to intervene on the issue.
Due to the presence of salmonella, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins - a popular flavour enhancer produced by Basic Food Flavor - are currently subject to a major recall in the United States and in Canada. However, the CFIA has decided to let ready-to-cook foods containing ingredients covered by the recall onto the market, thereby posing a potential public health risk.
In a letter to the industry, the Agency states:
“If the cooking or reheating instructions [listed on the ready-to-cook foods] can kill the bacteria, no further action is required.”
François-Décary Gilardeau, an agrifood analyst at Option consommateurs, says that this strategy, modeled on US methods, creates a very disturbing precedent. “The CFIA is transferring the industry’s responsibility to ensure food safety onto consumers. However, it is the duty of the food processing industry to provide quality, healthy products.”
Mr. Décary-Gilardeau says that the CFIA is wrong in imagining that consumers always comply with the cooking instructions on the packaging. “Many do not even have the time to read them. Ready-to-cook products are widespread on the market precisely because they are so easy to use.”
Option consommateurs is asking Minister Gerry Ritz to require on CFIA to recall of all potentially contaminated products. Thousands of products could be targeted. In addition, the agency is advising consumers to be vigilant for hydrolyzed proteins in the list of ingredients on ready-to-cook food and to follow the manufacturers’ cooking instructions carefully.
About Option consommateurs
Created in 1983, Option Consommateurs is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the defence and promotion of consumers’ rights. It has initiated thirty class-action suits and closely monitors issues related to the energy sector, the agrifood industry, financial services and business practices.
Information:
Julie Gagnon
Conseillère aux communications
Option consommateurs
514 598-7288, poste 226
Cell. : 514 777-6133
gagnon@option-consommateurs.org
Anu Bose PhD
Head
Ottawa Office
Option Consommateurs
1 (613) 244-2111
bose@option-consommateurs.org
Due to the presence of salmonella, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins - a popular flavour enhancer produced by Basic Food Flavor - are currently subject to a major recall in the United States and in Canada. However, the CFIA has decided to let ready-to-cook foods containing ingredients covered by the recall onto the market, thereby posing a potential public health risk.
In a letter to the industry, the Agency states:
“If the cooking or reheating instructions [listed on the ready-to-cook foods] can kill the bacteria, no further action is required.”
François-Décary Gilardeau, an agrifood analyst at Option consommateurs, says that this strategy, modeled on US methods, creates a very disturbing precedent. “The CFIA is transferring the industry’s responsibility to ensure food safety onto consumers. However, it is the duty of the food processing industry to provide quality, healthy products.”
Mr. Décary-Gilardeau says that the CFIA is wrong in imagining that consumers always comply with the cooking instructions on the packaging. “Many do not even have the time to read them. Ready-to-cook products are widespread on the market precisely because they are so easy to use.”
Option consommateurs is asking Minister Gerry Ritz to require on CFIA to recall of all potentially contaminated products. Thousands of products could be targeted. In addition, the agency is advising consumers to be vigilant for hydrolyzed proteins in the list of ingredients on ready-to-cook food and to follow the manufacturers’ cooking instructions carefully.
About Option consommateurs
Created in 1983, Option Consommateurs is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the defence and promotion of consumers’ rights. It has initiated thirty class-action suits and closely monitors issues related to the energy sector, the agrifood industry, financial services and business practices.
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Information:
Julie Gagnon
Conseillère aux communications
Option consommateurs
514 598-7288, poste 226
Cell. : 514 777-6133
gagnon@option-consommateurs.org
Anu Bose PhD
Head
Ottawa Office
Option Consommateurs
1 (613) 244-2111
bose@option-consommateurs.org
