U.S. kicks Canadian meat and poultry tests up a notch

U.S. kicks Canadian meat and poultry tests up a notch Starting this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service will step up testing of meat and poultry shipments from Canada.
   In specific, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will test for salmonella, listeria and E. coli, and will require that shipments be held until testing is complete and products are confirmed negative for these pathogens. In addition, Canadian meat and poultry products will receive increased levels of re-inspection by FSIS to confirm they are eligible to enter commerce when presented at the U.S. border.
   Richard Raymond, head of FSIS, said his agency will conduct an audit of the Canadian food safety system regarding Ranchers Beef Ltd. and will include other similar establishments that export beef to the United States.
   “FSIS will review the preliminary findings of this audit to determine whether there is need continue additional interim requirements,” Raymond said.
   FSIS and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency identified Ranchers Beef, now defunct, as the likely source of a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections linked to Topps Meat Co. No product from Ranchers Beef is now permitted to enter the United States.
   In the United States on Saturday, Cargill recalled more than 1 million pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E coli. The Associated Press reported that the beef was produced at Cargill’s Wyalusing, Pa. plant Oct. 8-11, and distributed to grocers in more than 10 states.
   This recall follows another made by Cargill on Oct. 6 for 840,000 pounds of ground beef patties distributed to Sam’s Club stores nationwide.