Via iNews 880, a radio station in Edmonton, Alberta: US bans XL Beef. Excerpt:
Another blow to Brooks based XL foods - the US has put a ban on its beef crossing the border.
The plant has already been subject to a sweeping recall of ground beef products because of E. coli contamination concerns. The recall has grown seven times as more and more products and grocery distributors have been caught up in the scare.
"Something like this certainly gets our attention," said Alberta Agriculture Minister Verlyn Olson Tuesday afternoon at the Legislature.
"We're very proud of our record on food safety and I think our jurisdiction compares very favorably with any other jurisdiction. Nonetheless when these things happen processes are in place to deal with them as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
"My understanding is this is a temporary closure. Work is being done to rectify the situation and we hope and expect the border will open back up very quickly."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says XL Foods Inc.'s Lakeside plant was de-certified from exporting meat on Sept. 13, three days before the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued the first of seven product recall notices in Canada. Of concern now to Olson is a potential back log where producers have no alternative where to go.
"It's got some potential to create a back up there so it wouldn't be a good thing for producers," said Olson. "And that's another reason why we want to see things rectified quickly."
