Between 2017 and 2019, Canadian public health laboratories transitioned to whole genome sequencing (WGS) for foodborne illness outbreak surveillance. A recent study shows the positive impact of this transition of national outbreak detection and response for important foodborne pathogens.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has completed its root cause investigation of the summer 2024 listeriosisoutbreak linked to plant-based Silk and Great Value milks. The agency was unable to confirm the primary source of the contamination, but found that the production facility was not compliant with testing requirements.
A recent study explored how the use of uniform, threshold-based precautionary allergen labeling could increase food safety for allergic consumers, as well as enhance the number of foods available to them on the market.
A Canadian foodborne listeriosis outbreak linked to plant-based milks has sickened at least 20 people, hospitalized 15, and caused three deaths. A recall has been issued.
Following the largest Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) outbreak affecting children in the Province of Alberta, Canada’s history, a review panel has put forth several recommendations that focus on fostering food safety culture and developing food safety inspection systems for childcare establishments/kitchens.
In light of the ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreak that has been affecting dairy cattle herds in the U.S., the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sampled and tested milk at retail to determine the presence of HPAI viral fragments.
