Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Suspends XL Foods’ Licence

Sep 28, 2012

XL Foods’ Licence Suspended After E.coli Contamination Beef Recall Expanded

XL Foods Inc. has had its licence temporarily suspended after orders from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The agency suspended the XL Foods Brooks, Alberta plant after the continuous expansion of numerous recalls, including the most recent one that had thirty U.S. states recalling the meat products off of grocery store shelves. The CFIA decided that the numerous recalls raised questions about the recall process, noting that authorities have been slow react on both sides of the border.

The agency said that until the company has corrected the deficiencies that have been identified after an onsite inspection, it will not be allowed to resume operations. XL Foods is one the country’s largest meat packers and employ more than 2,200 workers. The plant’s operating capacity was 4,800 head of cattle per day and is one of the major employers in the Brook region.

There are a total of nine people in Canada who have fallen ill and have been linked to E.coli bacteria from XL Foods products. There have been no illnesses reported to date or linked to XL Food contamination in the U.S.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.