June 17, 2009

Canada and US government officials and industry representatives are working to resolve issues that have blocked the movement of some Canadian canola-meal shipments to the US, said an official with the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association.

 

COPA President Robert Broeska said some shipments of Canadian canola meal have been stopped at the US border by the US Food and Drug Administration and are being tested for salmonella bacteria. Broeska said the issue began about two weeks ago, but he wouldn't indicate how many or at which border crossings the shipments were being held.

 

Broeska speculated that the FDA started cracking down after a deadly outbreak of the bacteria was found in peanuts in February.

 

He said that because the bacteria is extremely common and has many levels and forms of infection, it is hard to know exactly what the FDA is looking for.

 

The cause of the infection can also be tied to the type of containers used for transport, rail cars, storage for the canola meal and a whole host of others that will need to be examined, Broeska said. "We're looking for answers from the FDA so that we can address this issue with haste."

 

A statement from Bunge confirmed that the company in early May was notified by the FDA that a shipment of canola meal produced in its Hamilton, Ontario, facility tested positive for salmonella.

 

In late May, the FDA also notified Bunge that a shipment of canola meal produced in its facility at Nipawin, Saskatchewan, tested positive for salmonella.

 

Canola meal is a protein source used in animal feed. It isn't directly consumed by humans.

 

At the time of the notification, Bunge temporarily shut down the canola line at the Hamilton plant. The facility is now on its annual maintenance shutdown. Nipawin was already scheduled to close for annual maintenance at the time of the notification but has resumed production.

 

Bunge said in its statement it is communicating with the FDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding its plan to remedy the situation.