The Canadian Food Recall System
This chart shows the steps involved in a food recall.
The triggers for food recalls which are external to the
CFIA are:
- Health Officials
- Customer Complaint
- Companies
- Other Governments
These triggers initiate an investigation which is referred to the CFIA.
The triggers for food recalls which are internal to the
CFIA are:
There are 4 steps involved in the food recall process:
- Investigation. Investigations activities include
Processing information, evidence gathering, lab testing, determination of food
origin, tracing the distribution.
- Decision Making. Decisions are made by conducting a risk
assessment.
- Response. Responsive activities include recall notice and
implementation and verification of effectiveness.
- Follow-up. Follow-up activities include control of
recalled product, corrective action, and expanding the investigation.
The 4 stages of a food recall are conducted by: the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency, Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, industry, municipal,
provincial, territorial and international governments.