Future of beef slaughter plant depends on company compliance

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Whether the St. Ann’s Foods Inc. beef slaughter plant in West Lincoln near St. Catharines reopens is up to the company.

The plant was closed earlier this month by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for the company’s failure “to fully and consistently implement corrective actions to address deficiencies related to sanitary practices and operational sanitation.”

In an email response to questions from Better Farming, CFIA media relations manager Guy Gravelle said, “the CFIA has met with the company and has explained the deficiencies and required corrective actions. It is up to the company to determine how it will proceed next to comply with these requirements.”

The company has not responded to requests from Better Farming for information about its future plans.

The licence suspension was the third the CFIA has issued against beef-packing plants within the last six months, including the suspension at XL Foods of Brooks, Alta. last September because of concerns about E. coli contamination and deficiencies identified by the CFIA at the facility.

Asked whether the licence suspensions are because the CFIA is stepping up inspections or taking a tougher approach to inspections, Gravelle wrote, “Food safety is the top priority for the CFIA and our approach to protecting Canada’s food supply has not changed.”  BF