August 22, 014

Canada has introduced mandatory labels that clearly indicate whether beef is mechanically tenderized and include instructions for safe cooking, according to CBC's report.

 "There will be a sticker on the package that informs the shopper that is the method by which this meat has been tenderized," said federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose. "People need to know when they see that it's also their responsibility to cook that meat all the way through."

The decision on new beef labels follows the 2012's meat recall, the largest in Canadian history. The 2012 XL Foods's beef recall prompted the federal government to examine many regulations in the industry, including labelling of tenderized meats. Alberta's XL Foods plant was shut down for about a month after 18 people fell ill after eating meat produced by the plant.

Mechanical tenderization of meat is a common practice used in the food industry to improve the flavour by using needles or blades to break down fibre muscles.