Maple Leaf Unveils Overhaul

Stringent new food safety standards have been put in place at Maple Leaf Foods to ensure a deadly listeriosis outbreak that killed 20 people across Canada earlier this year doesn't happen again.

The food processing giant opened the doors to its Bartor Rd. plant in North York yesterday for a peak into a multi-million-dollar food safety overhaul.

"We do expect to find listeria in the environment — our job is to keep it out of the food," said Iain Stewart, a senior vice-president at Maple Leaf.

An outbreak in August was traced back to two meat slicers inside the plant.

The slicers are now taken apart each day and cleaned thoroughly and every two weeks the entire line is disassembled in an attempt to "seek and destroy" possible contamination, Stewart said.

The plant has also undergone some physical changes to eliminate areas where the bacteria may collect, such as changes to drains and air flow.

Workers and visitors are now required to wear shrouds, masks, aprons and sleeves.

A new system makes sure hands and boots are thoroughly washed before people enter the food preparation part of the plant.

"We believe these new protocols are far above anyone else in the industry and certainly exceed requirements by the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)," Stewart said.

Maple Leaf has been hard-hit financially by the outbreak and the resulting recall of its product from store shelves.

Consumer confidence bottomed out at about 65% but has rebounded to about 91% in a poll conducted at the beginning of December, company spokesman Linda Smith said.

In October, the company reported a $12.9 million loss over the summer months with its profits cut by the tainted meat scandal and the loss of customers.

About 65% of Maple Leaf's employees are back at work and plans are to be back to 100% in the first three months of next year, Stewart said.

Source: Toronto Sun