Canadians who heard news last week of a major recall involving beef products from the United States may have felt assured the steak in their freezers was safe.
But as they found out, it's wrong to assume beef and other meat products originate in Canada just because the country has its own meat-producing industries.
Earlier this week, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced a recall involving a variety of President's Choice beef products, including steaks, roasts and ground beef over fears of E. coli contamination. The products came from JBS Swift Beef Co., based in Colorado, and are part of a larger recall that has been linked to at least 18 illnesses in numerous states.
While news of a food recall is hardly surprising - in recent weeks, the CFIA has announced recalls on everything from pistachios to salad greens to food made with peanut products - many consumers were startled to find out some fresh meat products sold by Canadian companies actually originate in the U.S..
The recall is prompting new questions about sources of meat sold in Canadian grocery stores, and whether consumers have a right to know where the product originated.
Under current regulations, companies that sell fresh meat products, such as ground beef, aren't required to name the product's country of origin on the label, according to several industry experts.
Inge van den Berg, senior vice-president of corporate affairs at Loblaw Cos. Ltd., said Canadian farmers "are always our first choice" when it comes to the company's meat supply and that it only turns to U.S. suppliers when demand peaks, as it does during summer months.
Metro Inc. typically uses beef products processed in Canada, but sources from the U.S. when items go on sale to supplement demand, said Marie-Claude Bacon, director of corporate affairs. However, she couldn't say where the animals originated - just that they were processed in this country.
Neither Ms. van den Berg nor Ms. Bacon would specify how much of the meat sold at their stores originates from Canada. Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, said that regardless of their origin, meat products sold in Canada must meet rigorous quality and safety standards. He added that some companies may choose to label their products as Canadian if they believe it will give them a market advantage, but overall, products on the market are of a high standard, no matter where they came from.
But as the local-food movement continues to gain steam, information about a product and its origins is increasingly important to consumers. In addition to supporting the local economy, many consumers believe that purchasing items directly from the farmer will result in a fresher, less processed and even safer product.
There have been no reported illnesses in Canada associated with the products involved in the current recall. The President's Choice beef products were sold in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces from April 29 to June 16.
For the full alert, go to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
Carly Weeks