Ottawa Launches Review Into XL Foods E. coli Outbreak

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Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

Panel will report back to Agriculture Canada with recommendations on improving food safety

The Canadian Press/CBC News

Agriculture Canada says an independent panel of experts will review what contributed to the outbreak of E. coli at the XL Foods Inc. plant in Brooks, Alta. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

The federal government has launched a review of the E. coli outbreak last fall that sickened 18 people and led to the largest beef recall in Canadian history.

The review is to focus on what contributed to the outbreak of the potentially deadly bacteria at the XL Foods Inc. plant in Brooks, Alta.

It will also look at how well the Canadian Food Inspection Agency performed, including why tainted meat was distributed to retailers and sold to consumers.

Agriculture Canada said the review will be conducted by an independent panel of experts who are to hand in a report with recommendations to improve food safety.

“We take the safety of Canada’s food supply very seriously and we remain committed to the continuous improvement of Canada’s strong food safety systems,” Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a news release Friday evening.

Industry experts

At the time of the E. coli outbreak the XL Foods plant was the largest Canadian-owned beef slaughter facility in the country.

It is now owned and operated by JBS Food Canada, a subsidiary of JBS South America.

The federal government said the review panel includes recognized scientific, public health and meat industry experts.

They include Ronald Lewis, former chief veterinary officer for British Columbia; Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief public health officer for the Northwest Territories; and Ronald Usborne, a former executive with Caravelle Foods.

The review is to look at the design, implementation and oversight of food safety controls at the plant, including CFIA inspection policies, and how well testing information was shared by the company, inspectors and U.S. regulators.

The panel is to review the effectiveness of E. coli prevention protocols, including the ability to detect problems, recall beef products and how well the agency conducted followup investigations.

Federal documents have shown that CFIA inspectors issued six warnings to XL Foods about conditions in the plant between January 2012 and when the plant was temporarily shut down in September.

Some of the problems noted included improper sanitization of equipment, condensation dripping onto beef carcasses and containers overflowing with unsanitary water.

The agency said all of the problems cited were dealt with before the first cases of E. coli were found in beef produced at the plant.

The recall involved millions of tonnes of beef packaged in more than 2,000 different products across Canada and in many U.S. states.

The CFIA restored the plant’s operating licence on Oct. 23 and it was allowed to resume exports of beef products to the United States in December.

© The Canadian Press, 2013

 

Last of Canada’s E. coli Tainted Lettuce Victims Discharged From Hospital

HACCPCanada advocates and mandates HACCP System Certification; with an emphasis on providing Food Safety Confidence to the Consumer. We are a Third-Party Auditor and a Certifying Body (an independent & impartial national organization which evaluates and verifies HACCP systems) and have succeeded in furnishing an economical, effective and expedient Certification Process for the Retail Food Supply Chain including Non-Registered Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Restaurants and Retail Food Outlets.

Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

Food Safety News:  Last of Canada’s E. coli Victims Discharged From Hospital

BY DAN FLYNN | JANUARY 28, 2013

Not a single E. coli O157:H7 outbreak can be considered a good one, but when everyone recovers it is about as good as it gets. And that’s how Canada’s January E. coli outbreak –sourced to California lettuce– is ending.“The last patient was discharged,” John Gillis, media relations advisor for the Capital Health District Authority in Nova Scotia, told Food Safety News.Last discharged was the one Nova Scotia patient out of the 30 E. coli victims in three provinces who also developed the kidney threatening Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). In addition to that patient, a dozen other E. coli victims were hospitalized across Ontario and the Maritimes.

Canada’s lettuce-caused E. coli outbreak first surfaced on New Year’s Eve–Dec. 31, 2012–in New Brunswick. In the next 16 days, a total of 30 E. coli illnesses were confirmed; 7 in New Brunswick, 10 in Nova Scotia, and 13 in Ontario.

Canada usually reports about 440 cases of E. coli O157:H7 annually.

Also within the first week, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was investigating an Ontario-based distributor called Freshpoint. And two days later, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) found through its epidemiological assessment that the likely source of the outbreak was lettuce the victims consumed at KFC and Taco Bell restaurants.

The last onset of illness, among the victims,  was on Jan. 9. They ranged in age from  1-83, and  half were male and half were female.

KFC and Taco Bell, units of the fast food giant Yum! Brands got their lettuce from Freshpoint. On Jan. 10, Freshpoint initiated a recall of the lettuce its distributed to KFC and Taco Bell, quickly expanded to include other restaurants and institutions it served.

By Jan. 12, CFIA says it’s unlikely given the shelf life of lettuce that any of the contaminated products remains in circulation.

CFIA has traced the lettuce to California, from a grower involved in the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement (LGMA). Food Safety News has learned that the CFIA investigation  is focused on a brand from a company on the central coast of California. It’s a brand that may involve multiple growers and CFIA is not yet ready to name names.

California’s LGMA is safety program developed by the state’s growers and their buyers to prevent product contamination. It involves private auditors and public inspections by the State of California.
Many of the LGMA practices–developed after the 2006 spinach outbreak of E. coli– are included in the new produce rule published for comment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act.

© Food Safety News

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XL Foods dumps tonnes of meat at landfill

Disposal comes after widespread recall of E. coli tainted beef

CBC News

Posted: Oct 21, 2012 4:38 PM MT

Last Updated: Oct 21, 2012 5:57 PM MT

Read 194comments194

XL Foods took about 500 to 600 tonnes of beef to the industrial section of the Newell County landfill to dispose of the meat under supervision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (CBC)

XL Foods has dumped hundreds of tonnes of frozen beef into a landfill in Brooks, Alta., after a massive recall of E. coli-tainted beef linked to its plant.

The company took about 500 to 600 tonnes of frozen beef to the industrial part of the Newell County landfill, all under the supervision of Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials, over the weekend.

The company is expected to dump more beef on Monday.

The beef product in the boxes is mostly frozen ground beef and trimmings such as heart and tripe, but so far no high quality cuts.

Ray Juska, landfill manager at Newell County, says his crews are putting dirt onto the meat.

“It’s to keep out vectors, primarily seagulls is what we have here, and it’s also a requirement of the CFIA so nobody can go back and help themselves to some off-spec meat,” Juska said.

He’s also hoping that his contribution will help the company and its workers get back to work.

“We’re a waste disposal facility associated with Brooks and area and really what the big issue here, aside from what’s happening to Brooks and to XL, is what’s happening to the people that it’s affected,” Juska said.

“And it’s had a pretty substantial impact and now that a lot workers are laid off and the longer it goes on the greater it’s going to be. So, we’re really hoping by accepting this material that we’re part of the solution”

It’s not clear how much beef XL Foods will have to clear from the plant in order to have the CFIA reinstate its license following the recent E.coli outbreak and massive recall of 1,800 products.

The CFIA said last week that XL Foods would destroy all of the beef involved in a massive E. coli recall in Canada and the United States.

The agency also said that up to 5.5 million kilograms of meat stored at the Brooks plant and warehouses that wasn’t part of the recall would either be rendered or cooked at a high temperature to kill any E. coli.

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California-Canada Romaine Lettuce Outbreak Linked to Amazing Coachella, Inc.

Amazing Coachella, Inc. farms grew the romaine lettuce linked to E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that struck California, New Brunswick and Quebec in late April, the California Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday to the Packer.

The lettuce infected at least 9 in California, 18 in New Brunswick and 1 in Quebec. The New Brunswick cases all resulted from eating at Jungle Jim’s restaurant in Miramichi, while the California cases are said to have come from a single restaurant and the origin of the Quebec illness has not been stated.

Food Safety News inquired to the California health department regarding the name of the Californian restaurant involved in the outbreak, as well as any information about whether the lettuce was sent to any other locations beyond the three known, but a spokesman was still working on collecting the information Wednesday evening.

FSN first confirmed the California-Canada E. coli connection with the California Health Department last week, but at the time was told they could not reveal information regarding the number ill, the identity of the grower, or the restaurant involved.

By the time California health officials identified Amazing Coachella as the grower, the crop had long been tilled and replanted, leaving little opportunity to identify the cause of E. coli contamination. Health officials say the investigation is closed and the lettuce no longer poses a public health threat.

© Food Safety News

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Marler Clark: $600,000,000 in 20 Years of E. coli Litigation

Source: http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/foodborne-illness-outbreaks/600000000-in-20-years-of-e-coli-litigation—video/
By Bill Marler (July 14, 2012)
With the Ohio E. coli O157:H7 outbreak hitting 61 and likely to go higher, it might be good to take a look at the history of E. coli litigtion in the United States.
E. coli O157:H7 was identified for the first time at the CDC in 1975, but it was not until seven years later, in 1982, that E. coli O157:H7 was conclusively determined to be a cause of enteric disease. Following outbreaks of foodborne illness that involved several cases of bloody diarrhea, E. coli O157:H7 was firmly associated with hemorrhagic colitis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 1999 that 73,000 cases of E. coli O157:H7 occur each year in the United States. Approximately 2,000 people are hospitalized, and 60 people die as a direct result of E. coli O157:H7 infections and complications. The majority of infections are thought to be foodborne-related, although E. coli O157:H7 accounts for less than 1% of all foodborne illness.  The CDC also estimates that non-O157 STECs (like O26, O45, 0103, O111, O121, and O145) cause another 36,700 illnesses, 1,100 hospitalizations and 30 deaths in America each year.  E. coli is the leading cause of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
While the majority of foodborne illness outbreaks associated with E. coli O157:H7 have involved ground beef, such outbreaks have also involved unpasteurized apple and orange juice, unpasteurized milk, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, spinach and water. An outbreak can also be caused by person-to-person transmission of the bacteria in homes and in settings like daycare centers, hospitals, and nursing homes. We have been involved in representing families of children who have suffered from this bacterium in the following cases:
..;AFG / Supervalu E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Minnesota (2000)
..;AgVenture Farms Petting Zoo E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Lawsuits – Florida (2005)
..;Aunt Mid’s Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Michigan, Illinois, and Ontario (2008)
..;Bauer Meat E. coli Litigation – Georgia (1998)
..;Baugher’s Apple Cider E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Maryland (2010)
..;Big Fresno Fair E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – California (2005)
..;BJ’s Wholesale Club E. coli Litigation – New York and New Jersey (2002)
..;Bravo Farms Gouda Cheese E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Southwestern US (2010)
..;Camp Bournedale-South Shore Meats E. coli Outbreak Litigation – Rhode Island, Massachusetts (2009)
..;Cargill E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Minnesota, Tennessee (2007)
..;Carneco / Sam’s Club E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Wisconsin & Minnesota (2004)
..;CCC Alternative Learning Daycare E. coli Outbreak lawsuit – Texas (2002)
..;China Buffet E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Minnesota (2001)
..;ConAgra Ground Beef E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2002)
..;Country Cottage Restaurant E coli O111 Outbreak Lawsuits – Oklahoma (2008)
..;Cozy Valley Raw Milk E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Washington State (2011)
..;Crossroads Farm Petting Zoo E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – North Carolina (2004)
..;Cuyahoga County E. coli outbreak – Ohio (2009)
..;Dee Creek Farm E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Washington & Oregon (2005)
..;Dole Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon (2005)
..;Dole Spinach E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2006)
..;Emmpak E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Wisconsin (2002)
..;Excel E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Georgia (2001)
..;Fairbank Farms E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)
..;Finley Elementary School E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Washington (2001)
..;Flanders Provision Co. E. coli Outbreak Litigation – Colorado, Nationwide (2005)
..;Forest Ranch Fire Department Fundraiser E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – California (2008)
..;Freshway Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Multistate (2010)
..;Fresno Meat Market E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – California (2007)
..;Gold Coast Produce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – California (2003)
..;Golden Corral E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nebraska (1999)
..;Habaneros E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Missouri (2003)
..;Herb Depot & Autumn Olives Farm Raw Milk E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Missouri (2008)
..;Interstate Meat E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Oregon, Washington & Idaho (2007)
..;Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Washington (2008)
..;Jack in the Box E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Western States (1993)
..;JBS Swift E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)
..;Jimmy John’s and Sprouts Extraordinaire E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Colorado (2008)
..;Jimmy John’s Clover Sprouts E. coli O26 Outbreak Lawsuits – Multistate (2012)
..;Karl Ehmer Meats E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – New Jersey (2000)
..;KFC E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Ohio (1999)
..;Kid’s Korner Daycare E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Missouri (2004)
..;Kindercare E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – California (2000)
..;King Garden Restaurant E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Ohio (2002)
..;Lane County Fair E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Oregon (2002)
..;National Steak and Poultry E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)
..;Nebraska Beef E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide (2008)
..;Nebraska Beef E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Minnesota (2006)
..;Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)
..;Odwalla E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Western States (1996)
..;Olive Garden E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Oregon (2005)
..;Organic Pastures E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – California (2006)
..;Parsley E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Washington & Oregon (2005)
..;Peninsula Village E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Tennessee (1999)
..;PM Beef Holdings, Lunds & Byerly’s E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Minnesota (2007)
..;Robeson Schools E. coli Outbreak Litigation – North Carolina (2001)
..;Robinswood Pointe Senior Living Facility E. coli Outbreak Litigation – Washington (2005)
..;Rochester Meat Company E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Wisconsin, California (2008)
..;Rocky Mountain Natural Meats Bison E. coli Outbreak Lawsiut – Colorado, New York (2010)
..;Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Washington State (2008)
..;S & S Foods – Goshen Boy Scout Camp E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Virginia (2008)
..;Schnucks Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Missouri, Multistate (2011)
..;Sizzler E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Wisconsin (2000)
..;Sodexho Spinach E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – California (2003)
..;Spokane Produce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Washington, Oregon, Idaho (2002)
..;Stop & Shop E. coli Case – New Hampshire (2007)
..;Taco John’s E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Iowa and Minnesota (2006)
..;Topps and Price Chopper E. coli Case – New York (2005)
..;Topps Meats E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2007)
..;Tyson Fresh Meats E. coli Lawsuit – Ohio (2011)
..;United Food Group E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Western States (2007)
..;Valley Meats E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania (2009)
..;Wendy’s E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Oregon (2000)
..;Wendy’s E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Utah (2006)
..;White Water Water Park E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Georgia (1998)
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

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US CDC: Multistate E. coli O145 Outbreak Has Sickened 14 in 6 States

3 hospitalized; 1 dead; California and Tennessee confirmed…Is Canada Next???

BY JAMES ANDREWS | JUN 08, 2012

Today the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the E. coli O145 outbreak that killed a young girl in Louisiana has sickened at least 14 people in six states:

Georgia (5 illnesses), Louisiana (4), Alabama (2), California (1), Florida (1) and Tennessee (1).

Three people have been hospitalized.

The source of the contamination remains unknown.

“The investigation is looking at both food and non-food exposures as part of the ongoing investigation,” a CDC statement read. “State public health officials are interviewing ill persons to obtain information regarding foods they might have eaten and other exposures in the week before illness.”

Illness onset dates range from April 15 to May 12. Infections that began after May 12 may not have been reported yet. The most recent case was reported on June 4.

A 21-month-old girl in Louisiana died from her infection on May 31 after falling ill several weeks earlier. This outbreak has no connection to the May 26 death of a 6-year-old Massachusetts boy suffering from an E. coli O157:H7 infection.

Food Safety News last reported on this outbreak Wednesday.

 

© Food Safety News

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