Canadian Food Law Goes Into Effect, Impact on US Suppliers to Canada

Canada's updated food safety laws went into effect on January 15th.  These are HACCP based regulations that require preventive controls for hazards identified within food processes.

Companies that want to ship into Canada must work with a licensed Canadian importer.  For exporting to the US, a Canadian company with a license is a qualified foreign supplier as part of the FSVP regulations.

According to the web page for food importation into Canada, foreign suppliers do not need to license, but they must work with a Canadian importer who does have a license.  In essence, this put all of the responsibility on the Canadian importer.

 "Foreign businesses preparing foods for export to Canada do not need a licence under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). The Canadian business importing food into Canada needs a licence under the SFCR to import and any other permission as required by other Canadian Departments and Agencies. Work with an SFC-licensed importer to ensure that your food products meet all applicable requirements of the SFCR. Only in limited situations would you qualify to apply for a licence as a non-resident importer. "  

The CFIA has published a Step-by-Step guide for importers.  "This guide describes the recommended steps you can follow to meet the requirements to import food into Canada and to maintain a food import licence. As an importer, it's your responsibility to make sure the food you import is safe and that it meets Canadian requirements."

Before you import 

Step 1: Know your food what are the risks? (Guide for Preventive Control Plan for Importers)

Step 2: Familiarize yourself with Canadian requirements for importing food - in addition to controlling hazards, there is requirements for ensuring standards, grades, net quantity, and labeling.

Step 3: Select an appropriate foreign supplier

Step 4: Preventive control plan create it and implement it

Step 5: Develop a recall and complaints procedure

Step 6: Apply for your licence to import from the CFIA

When it's time to import 

Step 7: Provide the CFIA with information about each of your shipments

After you've imported 

Step 8: Keep traceability records

Step 9: Preventive control plan maintain it

Step 10: Implement a recall and complaints procedure

Food Safety Magazine
https://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/news/canadae28099s-new-food-safety-regulations/
Canada’s New Food Safety Regulations
By Staff
News | January 22, 2019

SC - Potential Hepatitis A Exposure at Brew Pub

In South Carolina, patrons of a brew pub in Aiken, SC, during a time period of Jan. 21 through Jan. 26, 2019, are being advised to get a Hepatitis A vaccination after a restaurant worker had been diagnosed with Hepatitis A.   Those who ate there from Jan 11 though Jan 20 may also have been exposed, but vaccination will probably not help them, so those unfortunate folks are asked to watch for symptoms.

Post-exposure vaccination is recommended for individuals if it can be administered less than two weeks (14 days) from when they may have been exposed. 

South Carolina Department of Health and Enviromental Control (DHEC)
https://www.scdhec.gov/news-releases/dhec-advises-possible-hepatitis-exposures-local-aiken-restaurant
DHEC Advises of Possible Hepatitis A Exposures At local Aiken Restaurant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 4, 2019

Canned Dog Food Recalled for High Vitamin D Levels Due to Supplier Error

Hill’s Pet Nutrition is voluntarily recalling select canned dog food products due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D.  Dogs exposed to higher than required vitamin D levels may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss, and at very high levels, Vitamin D can lead to  renal dysfunction.

"Hill’s Pet Nutrition learned of the potential for elevated vitamin D levels in some of our canned dog foods after receiving a complaint in the United States about a dog exhibiting signs of elevated vitamin D levels.  Our investigation confirmed elevated levels of vitamin D due to a supplier error." 

 https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm630232.htm
Hill’s Pet Nutrition Voluntarily Recalls Select Canned Dog Food for Excessive Vitamin D
For Immediate Release
January 31, 2019

This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending February 2, 2019

Wrong Label with Spaghetti Squash Alfredo Labeled  as Chile Relleno - Taylor Farms TX, Inc., a Dallas, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 2,100 pounds of chicken products incorrectly labeled as “Chile Relleno” products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the products contain wheat which is not declared on the product label. The problem was discovered on Feb. 1, 2019 when the firm discovered that a label for “Chile Relleno” was incorrectly applied to some of its USDA’s amenable “HEB Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Alfredo & Chicken” products.

Incorrect Back Label - Perdue Foods, LLC, a Bridgewater, Va. establishment, is recalling approximately 16,011 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken nugget products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the products contain milk, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when a retail store notified the company of an incorrect label. The establishment investigated and determined that the incorrect back label was applied to the product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-011-2019-release
Taylor Farms TX, Inc. Recalls Chicken Products Due To Misbranding And Undeclared Allergens 
Class II Recall 
011-2019 
Health Risk: Low 
Feb 2, 2019 

Chicken Breast Chunk Fritters Recalled Due to Consumer Compliant for Piece of White Rubber

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a Mt. Pleasant, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 58,020 pounds of not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded chicken products (popcorn style chicken breast chunk fritters) that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically white rubber.  Recall was initiated after a complaint from a retailer in Florida received a complaint.  This was a foodservice packed item.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-010-2019-release
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation Recalls Breaded Popcorn Chicken Products Due To Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class I Recall 
010-2019 
Health Risk: High 
Feb 1, 2019 

Canadian Food Conglomerate Shuts Down Listeria-laden CA Processed Produce Facility

McCain Foods has planned to shut down its California processed produce facility.  This facility was responsible for an extension recall in 2018 where numerous companies were forced to recall product after this facility had a Listeria issue.  According to an article in New Food Economy, "The total amount of product affected exceeds 100 million pounds, making McCain’s the largest recall of 2018."

As you may recall, the facility found presumptive positive results, but shipped product having never conducted confirmation.

Eliminating Listeria completely from a facility can be difficult, if not impossible.  At best, companies keep it under control and away from food and food contact surfaces.  It requires a large commitment of resources.  For older facilities or facilities that were poorly designed, more effort is required in cleaning to the 'microbiological' level.

The New Food Economy
https://newfoodeconomy.org/mccain-foods-closes-california-plant-whole-foods-trader-joes-listeria-recall/
McCain Foods closes the California facility responsible for 2018’s largest food safety recall

WI Firm Recalls All Nut Butter Products Due to Listeria Contamination

After a series of recalls related to Listeria (1, 2 3)  Oskri Corporation, a Wisconsin establishment, is recalling all of the product they manufactured.  "This recall has been initiated due to positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes found in multiple Oskri Corporation manufactured nut butters".

Unfortunately, this is a typical scenario for Listeria related recalls when the manufacturing facility never had Listeria controls in place.

Oskri Organics Corporation Recalls All Nut Butters because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2019

Update on Sentences for PCA Executives Who Sold Contaminated Peanut Butter

Food Safety News, the website sponsored by food safety lawyer Bill Marler, has an update on the convicted PCA executives, primarily Mary Wilkerson, the QA Manager who received five years in prison for her involvement.  She was charged with obstruction of justice in that she was not forthcoming about the crimes committed when the company knowingly shipped Salmonella peanut butter and forged COAs.

Five years is a long time to be locked away from family, friends, and freedom.  And for what?  Helping a dope of an owner make more money selling dangerous product rather than fixing the issue.

https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2019/01/pcas-victims-learn-the-next-stop-for-mary-wilkerson-is-a-macon-ga-half-way-house/
PCA’s victims learn the next stop for Mary Wilkerson is a Macon, GA half-way house
By Dan Flynn on January 31, 2019

Chicken Nuggets Recalled After Complaints of Contamination Due to Rubber Pieces

Tyson Foods, Inc., a Sedalia, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 36,420 pounds of chicken nugget products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically rubber.  The problem was discovered when the establishment received consumer complaints of extraneous material in purchased Panko Chicken Nugget products.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-009-2019-release
Tyson Foods, Inc. Recalls Chicken Nugget Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class I Recall
009-2019
Health Risk: High
Jan 29, 2019