March 6, 2007

Canada responds to contaminated cattle feed
 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has placed precautionary movement restrictions on cattle from nine farms in Saskatchewan because they received feed that did not meet Canada's current feed ban requirements.

The contamination occurred when misidentified ruminant meat and bone meal was distributed from a processor to feed mills. The meat and bone meal was subsequently included as an ingredient in certain ruminant animal feeds, which is not permitted under Canada's feed ban. The CFIA was notified by the processor and mills once the error was detected and immediately initiated an investigation.

All of the contaminated feed has been recalled and the CFIA has verified that all receiving farms have been properly cleaned. Preliminary findings of a science-based assessment indicate that the risk to animal health is, at most, very low. There is no food safety risk associated with meat and other products from the exposed animals and no exposed animals or their products were exported.

A complete investigation is underway to fully examine the situation and verify that the processor takes corrective measures. The CFIA will consider enforcement actions once the investigation concludes.