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How Canada's food safety system works

Anyone who sells food in Canada is responsible for making sure it is safe to eat. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces federal food safety regulations for both domestic and imported food.

Even in a modern, effective food safety system such as Canada's, risks cannot be completely eliminated. When unsafe food enters the marketplace, the CFIA works with the company to ensure that the public is informed and that the recall was effective at removing products from the market.

Consumers can help protect themselves and their families by following safe food handling practices at home and staying informed about food recalls and allergy alerts.

Food complaints, food safety investigations and food recalls

On average, the CFIA receives 2,150 reports from consumers concerning food safety issues each year.

On average, the CFIA conducts 3,000 food safety investigations each year. The goal of a food safety investigation is to determine whether a food safety hazard exists, assess the nature and extent of the issue, and take appropriate actions to eliminate or minimize potential risks to consumers.

The CFIA coordinates food recalls with our external food safety partners. The CFIA manages about 360 recalls each year.

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