USDA's Food and Safety Inspection Service has dialed down its level of inspection of imports of Canadian meat and poultry products.

In a letter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Dr. William James, acting administrator of FSIS's Office of International Affairs, wrote that FSIS will resume normal levels of pathogen testing on Canadian product.

On Nov. 9, FSIS implemented increased testing and holding of Canadian product following concern stemming from "unsafe practices" at Ranchers Beef, the suspected source of a E. coli-related recall of 21.7 million pounds of ground beef that put Topps Meat Co. out of business earlier this year. (See FSIS puts imports of Canadian meat and poultry under microscope on Meatingplace.com, Nov. 5, 2007.)

FSIS later decided to discontinue holding product. (See FSIS scales back scrutiny of Canadian meat and poultry imports on Meatingplace.com, Nov. 20, 2007.)

The agency's audits of CFIA's handling of issues related to Ranchers Beef as well as other Canadian establishments ultimately revealed no unsafe practices.

"Additionally," the letter states, "the increased testing has not revealed any problems with Canadian products exported to the United States."

To view the letter, click here.

By Tom Johnston on 11/28/2007 for Meatingplace.com