Ensuring Food Safety and Quality
Traceability Requirements in the Ontario Meat Industry By Daphne Nuys-Hall, Technical Director, Meat & Poultry Ontario Traceability is a fundamental component of food safety. In the event of a foodborne illness outbreak or contamination, the ability to trace products back to their source allows for swift identification and removal of affected products from the market. This protects consumers and minimizes the impact on public health. The traceability requirements for meat plants are outlined in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) and are enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). These requirements apply to a wide range of businesses within the meat industry, including slaughterhouses, processing facilities, and retail establishments, whether they are federally, provincially or municipally inspected. Food Traceability is divided into...