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CFIA Assessment of Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc.
Section 2: Background

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On September 4, 2012, during routine testing, the CFIA identified a positive E. coli O157:H7 sample in raw beef trimmings produced at an Alberta facility supplied by Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc. That same day, the CFIA was notified by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) of a positive E. coli O157:H7 sample in beef trimmings from XL Foods Inc. The CFIA quickly verified product distribution and determined that no affected product from the lot that tested positive on September 4, 2012, was in the marketplace.

The CFIA immediately launched an investigation of Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc., to determine the source of the contamination. A food safety investigation involves gathering product and distribution information from a variety of companies (e.g. manufacturers, food processors, distributors, and retailers). A key factor at this stage was to examine the establishment's distribution records, which took several days to obtain and assess. During this period, the CFIA enhanced its onsite inspection activities, including additional oversight of food safety controls intended to reduce the occurrence of E. coli.

As the CFIA's investigation continued, FSIS notified the CFIA on September 12, 2012, that it had found two more positive E. coli O157:H7 samples in beef trimmings originating from XL Foods Inc. The affected shipments were held at the border. No products from these affected lots were distributed in Canada. Based on the CFIA's investigation and the US findings, the Agency sent in a team of technical experts to conduct an in-depth review of operations at Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc.

On September 13, 2012, the CFIA removed XL Food Inc. from the list of establishments eligible to export to the US. Based on the preliminary findings of the in-depth review, and the two positive E. coli findings in the US, the CFIA and XL Foods Inc. began issuing public recall alerts on September 16, 2012, warning the public that specific ground beef products made from XL Foods Inc. beef trim may have been contaminated. FSIS issued its first public health alert to American consumers on September 20, 2012, warning them of potentially contaminated beef from XL Foods Inc. for the same dates covered by the CFIA alert. Ultimately, products produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5, 2012, were voluntarily recalled by XL Foods Inc.  To date, there was no evidence to indicate that other dates of production posed a food safety risk, and as a result, no other products were recalled.

The in-depth review of the establishment took place between September 12 to 18, 2012. During this time, the CFIA identified a number of deficiencies that indicated adequate controls for food safety were not fully implemented in the facility. The CFIA issued corrective action requests (CARs) to address the deficiencies. The establishment did not adequately implement corrective actions and did not present acceptable plans to address longer-term issues. As a result, on September 27, 2012, the CFIA suspended the operating licence for Establishment 38, XL Foods Inc. All the products in the establishment and in storage, at that time, were placed under CFIA detention and control.

The CFIA worked with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and provincial public health agencies, which were investigating cases of E. coli related illnesses potentially linked to XL Foods Inc. On October 1, 2012, PHAC announced four cases of illness linked to XL Foods Inc.

Between September 30 and October 6, 2012, the CFIA tested carcasses that had been detained in the establishment when its operating licence was suspended. This testing was undertaken to assess the adequacy of food safety controls in minimizing the risk of E. coli contamination. On October 9 and 10, 2012, a CFIA review team returned to the establishment to determine if the facility had addressed CARs uncovered as part of the CFIA's in-depth review. The team reviewed the sanitary conditions in both the slaughter and processing areas of the establishment. On October 11, 2012, the CFIA granted a modified licence for a temporary period to allow the establishment to de-bone and cut the detained carcasses under strict conditions and enhanced CFIA oversight. The CFIA review team monitored the establishment's food safety controls as the carcasses were processed.

For a complete timeline of events, see the CFIA website.

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