As reported last night, CFIA has decided to suspend the license of XL Foods temporarily until the plant implements some corrective actions to mitigate the risk of E. coli. According to the CFIA Statement: The detection of E. coli in slaughter facilities is not uncommon, and plants are expected to have adequate measures in place to monitor… Read More

With the XL Foods beef recall getting some major attention nightly on the news some producer issues are coming to the surface. AFSC has temporarily decided to suspend the fed cattle CPIP program.  In the short term, feedyards will be unable to participate in the government-run risk management program. Jennifer Wood, Livestock Price Insurance Coordinator, AFSC, stated… Read More

The recent meat recall at XL Foods is just another issue to provide adversity to the Canadian cattle industry.  With one of two Western Canadian packers being forced to deal with a meat recall the lift lines have pushed an already wide basis wider.   Additionally, the topic of a struggling pork industry has left… Read More

Say what you want about organic food production and produce, but proponents of organics can’t claim that organic food is more nutritious. That’s according to a study out of the Stanford School of Medicine, which concluded definitively that organically produced fruits and veggies offered the same level of nutrients. There are some distinct differences between… Read More

With the high profile stature of celebrities has produced a world where celebrities provide expert opinion on topics they see as “good causes.”   In this case it was political satirist Bill Maher (I watch the show every week) who tackled the cause of GMO food labelling. One of the guests on the panel Reason.com and… Read More

Online news feeds, morning programs and other sources in North America are airing some version of this headline: “Egg yolks are as bad for you as cigarettes”. Dr. David Spence and colleagues from the University of Western Ontario in Canada conducted this research. The results state that eating egg yolks accelerates placquing of arteries in a… Read More

While much of Manitoba’s canola crop is already in the swath or being combined, Alberta and Saskatchewan fields are at or approaching proper swath timing. Unfortunately, late season pests like bertha armyworm are also building substantially in many areas. Why is this an issue? Because of the pre-harvest interval (PHI) required for many insecticide products…. Read More

New Coke is a formulation and a branding error that will live in infamy forever. People hate when you mess with their favourite brands. The tiniest change can make a big impact.  It’s a move that can be absolutely devastating if it’s wrong, but it’s also a move that can be extremely profitable if done… Read More