Listeriosis Outbreak Spurs Food-Safety Bill

Food inspectors will have the power to seize on the spot anything they deem is unsafe to eat under the Doer government's plan to toughen food safety in Manitoba, Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk said Wednesday.

Wowchuk said the Food Safety Act is designed to reduce the chances of last summer's deadly listeriosis outbreak being repeated in this province. The outbreak was linked to processed meats produced at a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Ontario, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 Canadians.

"Food safety is a very important issue," Wowchuk said. "We don't want to take chances."

The proposed legislation would see at least six more inspectors hired — there are four now — to visit the up to 600 food and drink facilities in the province not covered by federal inspectors. The Food Safety Act was introduced Wednesday and will take months to wind through the legislative process before it becomes enforceable.

Wowchuk said current legislation deals with food safety on livestock and dairy farms, and public health inspections of restaurants and food stores. The new legislation would see Manitoba Agriculture inspectors take responsibility for inspections of food warehouses, distributors and processors, such as water-bottling plants. Public health inspectors will continue to inspect restaurants and food stores.

Wowchuk said the new act would give inspectors, without first getting a warrant from a judge, the authority to seize and destroy a food product they believe is unsafe for consumption. Inspectors would also be able to order a facility closed on the spot, but confirm it in writing within 72 hours.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press