Canada: Still not enough federal meat inspectors on job: union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hh5wTdbyvePKYiwhAN8ox2sf3vbQ

By Murray Brewster and Jim Brown

OTTAWA — Nine months after a deadly listeriosis outbreak, the union representing federal food inspectors says there's still a critical shortage of staff to oversee meat processing plants.

The agriculture section of the Public Service Alliance of Canada bases that conclusion on a survey it conducted in major metropolitan areas, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press.

Union officials, who are to appear Monday at a parliamentary sub-committee on food safety, said the survey results suggest it's almost impossible for federal inspectors to verify industry compliance with safety rules because staff are overwhelmed.

The union estimates that the number of inspectors specifically devoted to monitoring processed meat plants would have to double to 400 from the current 200 to do a proper job.

"If you want it done by the book - and you pretty much have to in an audit approach to inspection - you really undermine the integrity of your inspection process" if you don't have the staff to carry out the job, said Bob Kingston, president of the agriculture division.

He maintained that, in many cases, federal inspectors have too many processed meat plants to visit during the course of the day - a minimum of four - and can't possibly keep on top of spot reviews and the industry's self-reported violations.

FULL story at link.

[PDJane]

1. Yep.

We're following the US in that too.