Topps E-Coli Source Found? In Canada?

[Tex]

The ecoli problem was a food safety problem. There is enough blame to go around to the regulatory agencies in Canada and the USA. They are the "watchdogs" that are supposed to be working with the industry to provide a safe food supply and instead have been incompetent at best and corrupt at worse.

This problem can not be blamed on ANY PRODUCER.

Incidents of ecoli can occur at ANY PLANT, almost no matter how well run they are. The magnitude and length of this incident is a regulatory lapse.

These regulators on the ground need protection from political appointed management in the form of watchdog protections (some sort of internal investigation and control) inside and outside the agency. They also need the training and authority to do their jobs correctly. USDA management needs to pay back the bonuses that were given to the management because of lack of adequate performance. Instead, they walk away with their bonuses, much like corporate America top management walks away with retirement bonuses and the like. We need a little better oversight from congress and a little more accountability.

This needs to happen on both sides of the border.

This lapse is on the processor side of the business and it has affected DEMAND for your product!

 

[QUESTION]

Oldtimer maybe time for you to read and post complete articles not just suggestive parts go to the CFIA website and copy the entire article. :roll: then read it. The recalled beef from RB was only recalled from B.C. READ. No where does it state in which provinces there were illnesses found or how many. Just a blaket of provinces where there was e.coli illnesses so to say a particular cases is from RB is simple making things up and drawing conclusions without evidence . But i guess acusations are good enough for you OT. If i am wrong post the complete article showing exactly where the 45 potential canadian cases were from and where the 11 hospitalized were from what hospitals they were at and where the one elderly person who died was from and where they got the beef that made them sick from and how it was traced back to RB. It is not on the CFIA website where i went so please show me where you found this imformation on individual cases of e.coli illnesses. Or is it simply coming from your imagination.

 

[Anonymous]

Smoke, spin, and deny there Questionable--Caught in another falsehood, so now you try to flip it around... If you can't comprehend what the articles say I can't help you.... :roll:


October 26, 2007 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are currently investigating possible linkages between E. coli cases that occurred earlier this summer in Canada.

The investigation is examining 45 cases of E. coli O157:H7 that were found in New Brunswick, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia. These cases were previously reported from July to September, 2007. As a result of these cases, eleven people were hospitalized and one elderly individual died.

Ongoing testing has determined that most of the cases share a unique pattern of E. coli and the cause of the illnesses has been mostly associated with ground beef. This new E. coli pattern has also been found in the United States, and we are working closely with our counterparts at the United States Department of Agriculture to share information. We greatly appreciate the USDA's input and cooperation in this investigation.

The same unique E. coli pattern that was found in the majority of cases this summer has been found through genetic testing of samples of beef taken from a meat facility in Alberta.

 

[PORKER]

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/10/30/4616523-sun.html

Great Story from Neil about RBbeef packing co-op Ranchers Beef Ltd.

BUT Former Topps workers say the company had rarely used the often-cheaper imported beef before Strategic Investments & Holdings bought Topps in 2003. But after the buyout, it began using a significant amount of beef trimmings from countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Uruguay.

Department officials said that on the three days when contaminated batches were known to have been produced at the Topps plant last summer, the company was grinding both domestic and foreign trimmings.

 

[QUESTION]

OT thanks for not replying directly to my question. That is all the answer i need. Nothing written released directly linking Rb and foodborn illness on indiviual cases. Like i asked for. Keep on blaming me for trying to keep the posts somewhat accurate. I didn't find the published link between e.coli and Rb and topps or all the cases of e.coli poisining in canada. I will say the inference can be made but a link isn't published but that seems to be enough for you OT. Words used like possible, mostly, associated means there is no concrete proof. Don't you get it :roll: Oh wait call me some more names i am sure you want to do it so you can avoid my question and go off on a tangent , i expect nothing less.

 

[Anonymous]

Well Question--some of us non Canuck University graduates have the ability to relate how things go together and events correlate and don't need a picture drawn. Too bad you University folks never were taught that or about spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, capitalization, or paragraphs :wink: :lol: :lol: Keep promoting the intelligence of the Saskatchewanite :roll: :shock: :wink: :lol:

Neil wrote a good article- but should have drawn pictures for you old Saskartooners eh :???: :wink: :lol:

 

[Neil Waugh]

Thanx Oldtimer and Porker. Rkaiser may not see it that way. Although I don't want to get down on Randy, he's done a lot of good things on behalf of Alberta beef producers.
A lot of things done in Alberta in the name of BSE Bingo didn't make sense. Especially when the goofy Tories were trying to kick start Ranchers with millions in government grease yet siding with that outfit from the Ozarks in the bitter and bloody Tyson Foods strike at Brooks.
The problem with these deals the taxpayers' blood only gets spilled months or years after the event.
I'm surprised no Congressmen or Senators have been chirping so far.

 

[Sandhusker]

Well Question--some of us non Canuck University graduates have the ability to relate how things go together and events correlate and don't need a picture drawn. Too bad you University folks never were taught that or about spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, capitalization, or paragraphs :wink: :lol: :lol: Keep promoting the intelligence of the Saskatchewanite :roll: :shock: :wink: :lol:

Neil wrote a good article- but should have drawn pictures for you old Saskartooners eh :???: :wink: :lol:

This is the same university grad that thinks there has to be proof there are any more cases in Canada to justify any actions..... :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: I wonder if Q has any Huber blood in his family?

 

[Anonymous]

Well Question--some of us non Canuck University graduates have the ability to relate how things go together and events correlate and don't need a picture drawn. Too bad you University folks never were taught that or about spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, capitalization, or paragraphs :wink: :lol: :lol: Keep promoting the intelligence of the Saskatchewanite :roll: :shock: :wink: :lol:

Neil wrote a good article- but should have drawn pictures for you old Saskartooners eh :???: :wink: :lol:

This is the same university grad that thinks there has to be proof there are any more cases in Canada to justify any actions..... :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: I wonder if Q has any Huber blood in his family?

:lol: :lol: Well they definitely communicate on the same "beam me up Scotty" wavelengths :wink: :lol:

 

[rkaiser]

Nothing wrong with your article in my noodle Neil. Except that I wish you would have said something about Tony's other reason for saying the plant failed. Check out 23 - B of the following afidavit.

http://www.alger.ca/Affidavit_Martinez_14_Aug_2007.pdf

Don't be afraid to bring this testing issue out in the open Neil --- we have been doing it for over three years now, and none of our brakes have failed on a mountain road yet. :wink:

 

[QUESTION]

OT more insults and look here SandH chiming in with a little character assasination. Mayber you guys could throw in a little hard evidence. Oh wait you guys want to infer what is going on. Maybe we should look at where the connect the dots game gets you when you have no real proof. Where are the WDM's in Iraq? All indication your gov had were that Iraq had wdms where was the proof? Oh wait the conclusions was drawn without solid evidence. Then tragic thing is people are dying over there because of relating how things go together and correlate events. I am not bashing the war, just dramatically as possible trying to show you two how bad things can go when you connect the dots without solid evidence. All i asked for was solid proof evidence that RB was where the e.coli contanimated beef came from but the CFIA and USDA still haven't found one yet. Too bad the post secondary institutions you two went to did not teach you to ask questions, think critically and independantly, but rather focused on teaching fundamentals like spelling. [/quote]

 

[rkaiser]

In fact Neil, the taxpayers blood that you speak of is exactly why we promote BSE testing for market access and producer ownership of the packing industry. Finding other sources other than Uncle Sam's children for our beef is the only way we are going to continue with any export from this country. None of us are proud of the ABP/CCA begging that goes on for ad hoc payments or government grant applications by millionaires for private packing plant ventures like Ranchers Beef. The main reason that I would have liked to see Ranchers Beef survive was that they were willing to custom kill for me and others who do not want to personally own, and can't afford, a slice of a federal plant at this time. Ranchers Beef could not truly be seen as a producer owned plant unless you consider that the wealthy are the brightest :roll: and best suited to protecting the average producer from the multinationals. This plant will be used Neil, and the taxpayers could be proud of the Alberta ranchers who made it a viable entity again, to bring back a few of the dollars that they spent --- If we garner a little help from trumpeters like yourself we could make it happen even sooner.

 

[Anonymous]

Does USDA know something about Canadian processing problems that they aren't telling us :???: Are the Cargill processing plants receiving trim from Canada too :???: Or are they trying to cover for the Packers and stick this all on Canada :???:

For this USDA-- this is considered a DRASTIC move.....

www.fsis.usda.gov/News/NR_110307_01/index.asp


Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich


Statement of Dr. Richard Raymond Regarding Increased Testing and Re-inspection of Imported Meat and Poultry Products from Canada


"The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has instituted additional import requirements for meat and poultry products from Canada. Effective next week, FSIS will increase testing for Salmonella, Listeria Monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 and will require that shipments be held until testing is complete and products are confirmed negative for these pathogens. In addition, Canadian meat and poultry products will receive increased levels of re-inspection by FSIS to confirm they are eligible to enter commerce when presented at the U.S. border.

"FSIS will also immediately begin an audit of the Canadian food safety system that will focus on Ranchers Beef, Ltd. and will include other similar establishments that export beef to the U.S. Based on information provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), FSIS had previously identified this Canadian plant, which has ceased operations, as a likely source of the multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to the Topps Meat Company. As the result of that recall investigation, FSIS delisted Ranchers Beef, Ltd., Canadian establishment number 630, on October 20, 2007. No product from that firm has been eligible to enter into the U.S. since that date.


"The audit and stepped up actions at the border are being conducted because of concerns about testing practices at Ranchers Beef, Ltd. that were discovered as part of the ongoing investigation.


"FSIS will review the preliminary findings of this audit to determine whether there is need to continue these additional interim requirements. The FSIS team for this audit will include top officials from the Office of International Affairs and the Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review.


"These measures are being taken to further ensure the equivalency of the system already in place. We continue to work together with our food safety partners both domestically and internationally to ensure imported meat and poultry products are produced under systems at least equivalent to those in the United States.


"Yesterday FSIS Administrator Alfred Almanza and an additional senior FSIS food safety official met with their counterparts at the CFIA to inform them of increased testing and re-inspection requirements."

 

[Sandhusker]

Oh, jeeeeze, I can here it now, "Anti-trade and protectionist!", "Not following trade agreements!" "You've already got e-coli and salmonella down there!"

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[PORKER]

MSDT Acquisition Corp. buying Topps Meat Co. assets

(MEATPOULTRY.com, December 21, 2007)
by Bryan Salvage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Related stories
Likely source of Topps Meat Co. recall identified
(MEATPOULTRY.com, October 29, 2007)

Topps Meat Co. goes out of business
(MEATPOULTRY.com, October 05, 2007)

Topps Meat Co. expands ground beef recall
(MEATPOULTRY.com, October 01, 2007)


ELIZABETH, N.J. — MSDT Acquisition Corp., an affiliate of the Hawthorne-based company Premio Foods Inc., Company Profile
Updated: 06-DEC-07
Premio Foods Inc.
Private Company, Headquarters Location
50 Utter Ave., Hawthorne, NJ, United States
(973)427-1106, fax, http://www.premiofoods.com
Primary SIC: Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Product, Primary NAICS: Meat Processed From Carcasses
Description: Manufacturing: Meat processing; meat packing plant
is reportedly in the process of buying all of the Topps Meat Co. equipment, trademarks and beef, according to the Herald News.

Topps Meat Company L.L.C., previously the largest manufacturer of frozen hamburgers, announced Oct. 5 that because of the economic impact of its E. coli O157:H7-releated recall involving more than 21.7 million lbs of the company's products, it was forced to close its New Jersey-based plant and go out of business. It was the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history and caused 40 people in eight states to become ill.

MSDT will acquire the Topps equipment and trademark for $635,000, according to federal bankruptcy court filings. The company will also buy 2.1 million lbs of meat for $190,000, according to published reports.