CFIA revokes three major Canadian slaughterhouse licences

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has cancelled three Safe Food for Canadian licences of three major slaughterhouses. The decision was made after the agency identified during a food safety investigation that it had allegedly received false or misleading information from the licence holders concerning E. coli lab results.

Effective immediately, Ryding-Regency Meat Packers LTD., Canadian Select Meats Inc. (operating under St. Ann’s Foods Inc) and The Beef Boutique LTD. (operating under St. Ann’s Foods Inc) are no longer able to slaughter food animals or prepare meat products for export or to be sent from one province or territory to another.

CFIA initiated a food safety investigation into the three companies in September 2019 and the licences for the establishments were all suspended to ensure the safety of the public. They have now been permanently cancelled.

There were said to be numerous food recalls related to E. coli O157:H7 in various beef and veal products associated with this food safety investigation.

CFIA has now concluded the food safety investigation and no additional recalls are expected in respect of this investigation.

“This is a major blow for the beef sector in Ontario. Beef farmers in Eastern Canada are already faced with a serious processing capacity and competitiveness issue that is costing the sector millions in lost income. The cancellation of Ryding-Regency’s licence is a further hit on a marketplace that is already faced with too few processors to ensure a competitive, healthy market,” read a statement from Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO), representative of the province’s 19,000 beef farmers.

“BFO is continuing to work closely with Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and other partners to request immediate government action to aid us in resolving the mounting threats facing Ontario’s beef farmers from the lack of processing capacity in Eastern Canada,” the statement continued.