Canadian Food Inspection Agency Archives

U.S.-based Impossible Foods, whose Impossible Burger is shown here on display at U.S. grocery chain Wegmans, launched the product at Canadian retail in late October 2020, selling exclusively at Sobeys stores until February 2021. (ImpossibleFoods.com)

CFIA to consult on new near-meat, non-meat guidelines

Clarity for labels, promotion, composition to be considered

By Dave Bedard November 4, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes “Greater clarity” in federal guidelines for the makeup and labels of “simulated” meat and poultry products is the end zone for a new round of consultations underway for the next month. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Tuesday announced the launch for the public consultation, which includes an online survey and runs until Dec. 3. […] Read more

General

CFIA funded to build up inspection corps against COVID-19

Short spells of disruptions still to be expected at food plants

By D.C. Fraser April 18, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is spending $20 million to hire, train and equip additional staff members to limit disruptions resulting from COVID-19. With meat packers and food processing plants considering extended hours as they adjust to taking extra measures to combat the pandemic, CFIA was in need of a response to […] Read more

(Jeremy Woodhouse/DigitalVision/Getty Images Plus)

General

CFIA rethinking limits on travellers’ personal food imports

Consultation running until March

By GFM Staff February 9, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal government is considering changes to the amounts of food travellers can bring into Canada with them from other countries for their personal use. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Thursday announced public online consultations on the proposed new limits, which CFIA said would “better reflect the volume of foods typically moved by travellers […] Read more

A colourized low-temperature electron micrograph of a cluster of E. coli bacteria. Individual bacteria in this photo are oblong and colored brown. (Eric Erbe photo and colourization by Christopher Pooley courtesy ARS/USDA)

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Ryding-Regency’s federal beef packing licenses cancelled

By GFM Staff December 2, 2019

Reading Time: 3 minutes Citing “false or misleading information” given them during an E. coli probe, food safety officials have now permanently pulled the federal slaughter, processing and export licenses for Toronto’s Ryding-Regency Meat Packers and related companies. The cancellation, announced Monday, indefinitely prolongs what was already described as “critical processing capacity shortage” for the province’s cattle producers, leaving […] Read more

Several farm organizations have joined forces to launch an online survey to measure farmers’ understanding on seed royalties and to get their views.

Cereals, Crops

What do farmers really think about seed royalties?

The West’s general farm organizations have created an online survey to get farmers’ view on cereal seed royalty proposals

By Allan Dawson July 23, 2019

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian farmers are being asked their opinion about proposed changes to seed royalties for cereals by Western Canada’s three general farm organizations. The Keystone Agricultural producers (KAP), Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and Alberta Federation of Agriculture, launched the online survey July 15 to measure farmers’ understanding of what’s being proposed and get their views, […] Read more

Agronomist Bill Ungar recommends farmers equip their pickup with disposable coveralls and booties, spray disinfectant and a dedicated pair of rubber boots in a disinfectant tray.

Crops

Biosecurity a crucial part of your farm’s business plan

As the list of pest, weed and disease threats grows longer, so should the list of measures to keep them away

By Angela Lovell January 24, 2019

Reading Time: 9 minutes The signs instructing you to check in at the office and to put disposable booties on over your shoes are no longer just for when you visit hog and poultry farms — biosecurity measures are also becoming a feature for crop farms, for which the list of potential threats may be even longer. On its […] Read more

The associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan says that for more than a decade there have been more women than men in the ag programs.

Features, Guide Business, News

‘Super Keen’

Ag education is hot, and enrolment is booming from coast to coast

By Treena Hein November 23, 2018

Reading Time: 8 minutes It’s inspiring for anyone in agriculture to talk to the principals and deans at ag-related academic institutions across the country. More than ever in history, young Canadians are pursuing careers in ag. In a nutshell, it’s because there are jobs in agriculture after school — good jobs that offer exciting and interesting career paths for […] Read more

The CFIA says no GM wheat has been found in Canada’s commercial wheat system. Photo: iStock

Cereals, Crops

Unapproved glyphosate-resistant wheat found in Alberta

By Allan Dawson June 14, 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes UPDATED, June 14, 2018, 6:55 p.m. — Genetically modified (GM) wheat — which hasn’t been approved for commercial production in Canada — has been discovered in southern Alberta, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed. The wheat of unknown origin contains a genetic modification making it resistant to a common herbicide, CFIA told reporters Thursday. […] Read more

Livestock, Poultry/Eggs

CFIA seeks ‘fundamental change’ in chicken processing

By Country Guide Staff March 28, 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada’s chicken processors have a year to make plant-level changes to cut the risk of salmonella infection from frozen raw breaded chicken goods. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said March 12 it will require processors to identify salmonella as a hazard likely to occur in these products — and to “implement changes in order to […] Read more

According to one report, DuPont Pioneer is using CRISPR technology to develop a corn hybrid with a higher wax content, due out in 2020.

Crops

Our CRISPR future

New technology promises to shove traditional GMO breeding aside, with huge gains for growers

By Ralph Pearce October 24, 2017

Reading Time: 7 minutes Where were you when… you heard of GPS or Bt corn for the first time? Both were seminal moments of the past 25 years in agriculture that have led to further innovation and advances, increasing growers’ efficiency and productivity at practically every step of the way. Now, CRISPR technology represents another of these seminal moments, […] Read more

B.C. again waives ag income threshold for farm properties

Flea beetles a nuisance for canola crop

Businesses, U.S. legislators fume as Canada extends travel ban

GFM Network News