Someone IS paying attention....

While researching for more material on the listeria outbreaks in Canada, I ran across an interesting Blog site on the topic. It is called : Marler Blog

In it he has many American articles but he also details outbreaks from Canada, as well. There are other links from the site to many,many other blogs and webs that discuss this issue in detail.

Food processors and producers need to pay attention here, this fellow is a LAWYER. Litigation over due diligence and plant and processing standards, regardless of the size of the processor (here I am thinking of those 'on farm' plants) is rampant. The media isn't talking bout this either.

Go and check it out.

Food Safety Disaster

When I last wrote in Dairiblawg , the article that set me off had been buried deep in the back of newspapers. Changes to CFIA, the 5% cut in budget, etc, etc. Even though in my bones I felt this was the path to disaster, I didn't think we would see it happen so soon.

I have been reading and watching the news stories as the Maple Leaf Foods disaster, just keeps on growing. Worse, they are one of the few large plants left in Ontario to process pigs for farmers.

Again, consumers are probably shocked at how many brands were handled by that single plant. Our illusion of choice has disappeared and consumers are left wondering where to go.

I think they are flocking to farmers markets, and local butcher shops (if you have one) . Ontario better have its food safety guidelines and inspections up to snuff. There are not enough small processors or local suppliers out there to keep us all in fresh food. Things could get darn interesting.

Massive modern, distributions systems for food like we have, are very efficient. They have brought us food for a ridiculously cheap price, nation-wide. But they can also be deadly, spreading disease or food borne illness across massive distances and numbers of people.

This was always the Achilles heel of the food industry. I guess we just have been darn lucky it hasn't happened sooner!!

******

Since I first started this post, Maple Leaf has finally come back on line, Quebec has had its own food safety issue, this time surrounding cheese and China has had several more food safety scandals surrounding illegal additives in baby formula and other products.

These days, when I go into my local butcher shop, I hear questions like, "Who does your processed meat?" Maple Leaf anyone?

I will be detailing more on this issue as it continues to dominate consumer thinking. The larger problem is that the media has not followed through on this topic. It comes and goes as food safety issues hit the headlines. No one has asked why we should accept this level of risk in our food system.

Consumers are quietly doing what they have always done. Finding other places to buy or source their food.

Food Safety Anyone???

Remember the BSE crisis in the dairy and beef industry? Remember that Canadian beef has JUST started to be acceptable in some export jurisdictions? Remember the devastation wrought in our breeding export industry? Farmers in these industries are far from recovery.

Now, place all of that struggle next to dead pets, contaminated imported toothpaste, vitamins, baby food and all kinds of 'other' issues surrounding the import of our food products. What is our federal government's on-going plan to help farmers and consumers? Take a look at these articles and weep.

No Risk From Mad Cow Case, Ottawa Says
Canwest News Service Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Who pays cost for food safety?
Calgary Herald Published: Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Mad cuts?
The Edmonton Journal

In a time that calls for more regulation of our food from the front end or the imported stuff and THIS is what they come up with. Farmers and consumers alike should be outraged!!!!!!!!

The struggling agriculture sector does not need more costs downloaded to it. And a national program that pays for very expensive, necessary BSE testing, should be the LAST place the budget should be cut. Testing is the very crux of improving and maintaining consumer confidence. You know, that group of people who actually buy food to eat? The same ones who have been crying out for MUCH improved labelling on a number of fronts, from 'Made or grown in Canada' to transfats and other stuff on labels that basically confuses the heck out of us all.

The articles tell us plenty. BSE is not the only poison pill they are hoping to load onto unsuspecting Canadians.

In a world of rising fuel and food costs, food security is what Canadians are talking about. I never dreamed that this government would be so out of touch with what Canadians really want. It wasn't too long ago that the woeful LACK of Canadian Food Inspection Agency testing was a hot topic.

Better scream loud and long.

More Bad, Bad Food News

I barely had the last post published and to-day, another longtime food processor is leaving town. This time it is the Campbell's Plant in Listowel, Ontario. The article refers to production going to 'other north American plants' read Mexico (?).

A bad news day in Listowel
By staff The Beacon Herald


What else is a consumer to think. So now Campbell's will expect you to still buy their products, even thought they are packing up their bags and leaving.

According to the CTV National News, the paramount reason is of course 'the high loonie'. Now come on folks we have and a high dollar before. This plant has been here for 50 years. There is something much more insidious at work here.

They are leaving for cheaper climes ......... because they CAN! The difference this time around is of course .... wait for it ....... FREE TRADE!!!

And Canadian consumers (so far anyway) have not said a thing. Now if they want these food companies to take notice of their concerns about food closer to home, they better make a very, very, loud noise.

Ottawa says there is nothing they can do. Wrong. There is plenty they can do. A bit of tough talk about what people in this country might like to purchase may make these guys think at least once.

Other wise they won't be the last one to keep moving on ..... to the next cheapest road show in town.

Just who will process your food then!!!!! The federal government should look at food plant losses as seriously as they would look at the loss of our oil reserves or our water.-CG

More 'Food Crisis' news

The past few days my mailbox has been full of articles about the rising cost of food. A sampling is illuminating ...... but no farmers on those interview lists yet!!

As usual, our food retailers and processors are quick off the mark. The problem in this country is that very few consumers understand just what free trade has really done for them.

Destroying crops while others starve
Apr 26, 2008 04:30 AM Thomas Walkom

Note: This particular article exposes nicely, the weakness in globalization and economic theory that focuses on 'which country can produce the most efficiently';translation of course is 'cheapest'!!

Beef producers struggle in midst of price rise rumours

By HANK DANISZEWSKI, SUN MEDIA

Rising grain costs push Maple Leaf into loss

Reuters Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008

Bread prices on the rise, food reps say
Last Updated: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:11 AM ET

Why grocery bills are set to soar
PAUL WALDIE
From Friday's Globe and Mail
April 25, 2008 at 4:01 AM EDT

Food companies warn of rising prices
Canadians can expect to pay more at grocery stores as higher feed costs advance through the food chain
Apr 25, 2008 04:30 AM
Dana Flavelle business reporter

This is just too much ...... it goes on and on. It is almost enough to have people digging up the yard for this year's garden. Don't laugh!!! Some articles have actually put forward that idea. It was 'tongue in cheek', but I am sure that some people took it very seriously.

In the land of plenty we go round and round and consumers are buffeted by articles, news stories, pundits and the food players. The Business News Network (BNN) even discusses our 'food' or commodities constantly.

Hmmmmm??! Maybe it's time to push the 'Food Security' idea much, much, harder. Woe betide the foolish politician who forgets about these headlines at the WTO.

It should NOT be hard to get some valuable air time for this one.-CG

Food Crisis .... a warning.

I have been listening to and reading numerous articles and reports this week, about the 'Food Crisis' faced by many impoverished countries. There even is an article warning the 'crisis' could hit this country,too!

At the same time, we have Ontario beef and pork producers faced with their perfect storm and the depopulation of their herds as a solution to their crisis.

Meanwhile, grains and oil seeds farmers are just beginning to see the light of day, with the rise in prices for wheat, corn and soybeans.

Canadian supply managed farmers (dairy, turkey, chicken and eggs) are worried about their governments' goal at the World Trade Organization and what may happen to their stable system.

Something is terribly wrong with this picture.

For one thing, this country's food supply is dominated by a retail strangle hold. Their suppliers look for the 'cheapest' source of their food products for you (Walmartized).

Distributors and processors push backwards to their suppliers, the farmer. Processors of food for many products have been allowed to consolidate or have been sold off to foreign buyers. Large processors have way more political power and power over the farmers of many products who are forced to sell to them. With free trade agreements in force they are moving their products into this country at the expense of our own food supply.

Really bad agricultural policy ignoring "Made in Canada' labels among other national food issues and focused on the World Trade Organization and the globalization of food instead, are responsible as well. There have been all kinds of special Agricultural reports to Parliament that could have gone a long way to begin to solve the problems. They were ignored.

The result of course has been a reduction in produced crops, loss of farmers in production and loss of world stocks, pushed ahead by drought in many countries. This is just a tiny part of the result.

Agriculture has been such a pawn of commodity brokers, prices set by outside forces (not the farmers themselves) and government, including our own federal government, it is no wonder some have given up.

In all the attention the media has showered on the "Food Crisis" issue I have yet to see anyone focus on the farmers themselves and this country's own food price and source dysfunction. There are all kinds of 'reports' from our own members in Parliament that too many governments have ignored.

Our media could do us all a great service if someone would take an in-depth look at the whole mess. We have way too many ridiculous inconsistencies of supply of food, price of food and who controls it. It's time for CTV or Global or the CBC to try to get to the bottom of it all. Maybe now, there is an appetite to do it.

WTO Storm Clouds again?

I haven't been paying a lot of attention to recent WTO activity. Besides, it's been kinda quiet out there. But when contradictory stuff appears 'out there' , wise citizens concerned about our ability to continue to feed ourselves need to pay attention. So too, do farm organizations for turkey, eggs, milk and chicken.

As noted in a Dairy Farmer's of Canada newsletter, last week, Supply Management (dairy) and the government's support for it, was detailed in question period. That was the first rumble.

About the same time the Ontario Farmer arrived and in it was a letter to the editor from former Senator Jim Tunney. This is the second rumble.

Entitled: 'Wheat Board Politics are of the worst kind', his letter gives some very interesting insights into the scanky and contradictory activities by the government, with regards to the Canadian Wheat Board. It is a quick history that all farmers and citizens should read. The last point in the whole letter is the part that made me pause:

Farmers want to trust our ministers, but have doubts when we see the results of a referendum and then hear another senior minister, David Emerson warn poultry and dairy farmers that they should prepare to find another way than with supply management to market their production.- Jim Tunney, Grafton

These are remarks Mr. Tunney, obviously knows about or has seen written, by the Minister for International Trade, the Hon. David Emerson.

Now Mr. Tunney has a respected background. He " was a director of the Dairy Farmers of Canada for 18 years and of the Dairy Bureau of Canada for 8 years. He was also a director of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, representing farmers in six counties including his native Northumberland County. "[English]

During his term as Senator he was a member of the Standing Committee of Agriculture and Forestry. He is, as I would term it, "plugged in". His concern for supply management and the Dairy Farmers of this country is well known.

If farmers know what's good for them they need to have a hard look at the Hon. David Emerson and his government. No matter what they have said, are saying or will say, their track record with the Wheat Board is not calculated to inspire confidence in their activities with the WTO.

At the very least, supply managed farmers need to figure out what kind of options they may have to derail any stupidity coming from this government.-CG