Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Industry Testing for Pathogens in Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products – April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2019
What are the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and industry testing programs
National Microbiological Monitoring Program
A CFIA program that samples and tests ready-to eat (RTE) meat and poultry products for pathogens.
Risk Based Verification (RBV) Program
A program implemented by federally registered establishments in Canada to test RTE meat and poultry products for pathogens.
The CFIA and industry work together on ongoing testing for foodborne pathogens to safeguard the food supply.
What is a ready-to-eat product
A RTE product needs no further cooking before eating. Foods that must only be washed, thawed, or warmed are considered RTE.
What pathogens were tested for
What did the CFIA and industry find
The prevalence found via the CFIA and industry testing are comparable and could even be considered low.
Lower prevalence indicates safer food for the Canadian public.
Fiscal year |
Sampling program |
Total number of samples tested |
Total number of positive samples |
Prevalence Table Note 1 |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015-16 | CFIA | 943 | 3 | 0.32% |
2015-16 | Industry | 1543 | 5 | 0.32% |
2016-17 | CFIA | 958 | 5 | 0.52% |
2016-17 | Industry | 1624 | 5 | 0.31% |
2017-18 | CFIA | 961 | 4 | 0.42% |
2017-18 | Industry | 1725 | 8 | 0.46% |
2018-19 | CFIA | 971 | 2 | 0.21% |
2018-19 | Industry | 1985 | 7 | 0.35% |
Table Note
- Table note 1
-
Comparisons between CFIA and industry testing in a given year do not show a statistically significant difference in the calculated prevalence based on a 95% confidence interval.
Fiscal year |
Sampling program |
Total number of samples tested |
Total number of positive samples |
Prevalence Table Note 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015-16 | CFIA | 417 | 0 | 0.00% |
2015-16 | Industry | 1590 | 2 | 0.13% |
2016-17 | CFIA | 422 | 0 | 0.00% |
2016-17 | Industry | 1670 | 1 | 0.06% |
2017-18 | CFIA | 424 | 1 | 0.24% |
2017-18 | Industry | 1644 | 0 | 0.00% |
2018-19 | CFIA | 371 | 0 | 0.00% |
2018-19 | Industry | 1889 | 0 | 0.00% |
Table Note
- Table note 2
-
Comparisons between CFIA and industry testing in a given year do not show a statistically significant difference in the calculated prevalence based on a 95% confidence interval.
405 samples were also tested by CFIA and Industry for Escherichia coli O157 during the same time period resulting in 0 positive results.
What happened after
Appropriate follow-up actions took place for each food product that was found positive for pathogens. These may have included:
- additional facility inspections
- issuance of a Corrective Action Request to the establishment
- additional product/surface sampling/testing to verify Good Manufacturing Practices
- removal of affected products from the marketplace
The CFIA continues to analyse the data submitted by industry under the RBV program.
Contact us
Email: cfia.surveillancemicro.acia@canada.ca
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