The past year has brought with it many food recalls in Canada, especially in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Food and beverage manufacturing is growing in these areas, so by default, an increase in food recalls would be expected. 

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We take a look at the top food recalls across Canada and how food safety technicians and quality assurance specialists can mitigate the effect of product recalls in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. 

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Let’s explore. 

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What is a food recall? 

A food recall is defined as “ the removal of a food from further sale or use, or the correction of its label, at any point in the supply chain as a risk mitigation action.” 

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Any product recalled should be recalled from the marketplace, and food manufacturers are warned not to "use, sell, serve or distribute it” (CFIA). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) role is “to inform the public, oversee implementation of the recall and verify that industry has effectively removed recalled food from the marketplace.”

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Food and safety experts such as food safety technicians and quality assurance specialists are responsible for ensuring all manufacturing processes are compliant and that products meet safety and quality regulations. 

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But mistakes do happen. 

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Food recalls often happen when there is a failure to meet GMP and HACCP programmes, a lack of traceability and poorly maintained processes and facilities.

Here are some of the food recalls in 2022 where things fell through the cracks. 

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Top food recalls due to allergens 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) constantly refreshes its listings to its ongoing list of food recalls in the country. The affected products in the latest recalls are largely due to undeclared allergens. 

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Food Allergy Canada indicates that food allergens affect over 3 million Canadians, including 600,000 children. To mitigate the risk of recalls, Food Allergy Canada has released new Allergen Management Guidelines for food and beverage manufacturing professionals.

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Let’s have a look at some of the products recalled due to allergens such as milk, peanuts, soy and gluten. 

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• Cruzilles brand Acid Mini Pastille Fruit Jellies were recalled due to undeclared milk. The recalled product has been sold in Ontario and Quebec.

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• Lebby Dark Chocolate Chickpea Snacks were recalled due to undeclared milk. The recalled product has been sold nationally.

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• Seed Ranch Flavor Co. brand Umami Everyday Sauce was recalled due to undeclared soy. The recalled product has been sold by Vegan Haus at vegan markets in Toronto, Mississauga, and Burlington, Ontario, and online.

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• Tiramisu Twist Cookie was recalled due to almonds and hazelnuts not being declared on the label. It was sold in Vancouver. 

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• Cappola brand Genoa Salami was recalled due to the presence of milk and wheat, which are not declared on the label. The salami was sold across Canada.

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• Bliss Balls brand Chocolate Ginger and Everland brand Chocolate Hazelnuts, sold in Alberta and B.C., were recalled due to undeclared milk.

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Top food recalls due to  “extraneous material”

Foods can be recalled for food safety reasons due to foreign objects being found in food, such as glass, plastics or “metals. 

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Food safety technicians and quality assurance professionals have strict protocols to ensure manufacturing mistakes don’t result in nonfood ingredients getting into products. 

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Still, sometimes errors occur, and these can be dangerous and costly. Here are some of the products recalled due to foreign materials. 

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• Bonta Pepperonata was recalled due to extraneous material in the form of "pieces of glass" in the product. The item was sold in Alberta, Manitoba, B.C. and Saskatchewan. 

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• Hafner Canada Inc. recalled Sélection du Pâtissier lemon and poppyseed poundcake because of pieces of plastic in the product. The recalled products were sold in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.

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• Lactaid cottage cheese was recalled in Canada because of plastic found in the product. The recalled product was sold in Ontario and Quebec. 

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Top food recalls due to Pathogens

Food recalled for foodborne diseases can have serious health consequences.

Quality assurance specialists continually and closely analyze the type and design of conveyance systems and sanitation procedures to prevent post-processing outbreaks and recalls. 

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But much foodborne illness contamination is found sooner in the supply chain, despite food safety protocols. 

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Here are some of the food recalled this year due to bacteria, Salmonella and Listeria. 

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• Labneh's soft unripened cheese in vegetable oil was recalled due to the potential presence of dangerous bacteria.

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• Oyster Kings Inc recalled various brands of oysters due to a possible Salmonella contamination.

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• UNREAL dark chocolate coconut minis were recalled due to Salmonella contamination

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• Tahini Extra sesame seed paste was recalled due to Salmonella. 

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• Mahruse halva with black Seeds was recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.

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• Golden Medal Enoki mushroom was recalled due to Listeria. 

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The Case For Effective Traceability Systems For Food Safety

Food and beverage manufacturers in Canada are responsible for tracking every single ingredient used in processing across the supply chain (from receipt of the initial ingredient, seed, foodstuff, animal – and its feed, additive or raw material; through the entire manufacturing process). 

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Doing this manually would be a food and safety technician’s nightmare!

All food and beverage manufacturing jobs call for a basic understanding of food safety and quality assurance. Still, food safety extends beyond what happens at a plant. 

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But rather across the entire supply chain. 

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That’s where an Effective Traceability System comes in. A good traceability system reduces the time required to trace a product. 

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With new technologies (such as blockchain traceability and virtual product testing ) and methods (such as RFID and barcode tracking) of traceability, access to information about food products can take place faster and more accurately.

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Canada is well known for its solid food safety systems. Emerging technologies are improving traceability, opening up new food and beverage manufacturing jobs and opportunities for quality assurance specialists and food safety professionals to grow their careers. 

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If you are looking for a company that promotes a solid food safety culture and employs the latest technologies in food safety, QTalent is here to help. QTalent will help you find the perfect food and beverage manufacturing job based on your unique career goals. 

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Check out QTalent to find out more.