The "Weatherill Report" On 2008 Maple Leaf Listeria Outbreak Cites "Void In Leadership"
Before we get going, let’s acknowledge the obvious. We pay such little attention to Canada that we are far from experts on our neighbors to the north.
When we do pay attention to Canada its usually because of some natural or man-made disaster. Canadians tough out what mother nature sends their way, but man-made disasters are another story.
In America, we try and get both truth and justice in our Courts. If policy-makers learn any lessons along the way, we consider ourselves lucky. In Canada, it’s a different story. Up north, the man-made disaster playbook requires multiple inquires in hopes of placing some sharp-edge political blame.
There was no doubt man was responsible for the 2008 listeria outbreak that was eventually traced to the ready-to-eat meat cutters at the Maple Leaf plant in Toronto.
Maple Leaf paid out $27 million to the survivors of the 22 mostly elderly Canadians who died in the listeria outbreak. Members of Parliament have already weighed in with their own report on the tragedy.
The latest play in the inquiry game comes from independent investigator Sheila Weatherill, a public health expert and former CEO of Edmonton-based Capital Health. Her report to the government in Ottawa is a big deal.
Here’s how the Calgary Herald puts it:
A "void in leadership" within the federal government during last summer's deadly listeriosis outbreak came after company officials and over-worked meat inspectors failed to identify a persistent listeria problem at the Maple Leaf Foods plant, according to a highly critical report by an independent investigator.
No player in the listeriosis outbreak escaped criticism from Sheila Weatherill, who released her report Tuesday.
But Weatherill zeroed in on a "vacuum in senior leadership" among government officials at the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that caused "confusion and weak decision-making.
She makes 57 specific recommendations in the report. Maple Leaf president Michael McCain said the report was "tough" on the company and "it ought to be." Ag Minister Gerry Ritz added the most worn observation, saying the outbreak was the result of a "perfect storm."
typical lack of canadian intelligence and fortitude . . . all big business ownership of the government
The fact that this happened at all is reprehensible and unforgivable. I will never again buy shopseys, schniders, ziggys, maple leaf, hygrade, etc.
They are certainly tight lipped about it but I do beleive they are so stupid and that they have never cleaned the plant and equipment before such that the original plant still is not opened up.
Then a year later - on their best behavior and most diligent efforts, which are usless, arrogant canadian know-nothing, another plant has a recall of 9 different types of hotdogs.
At the hamilton, ontario plant, huffman, said they "have very strong food safety sanitation"!?!?!?1 If it were true that they even had ANY food safety sanitation they would not have had to recall 9 brands of hotdogs a year after killing canadian people. Imagine a whole million dollars to replace a family member!! money grubbing butchers
By your responses I can only assume you have been watching too much Fox News. Typical self-rightious Americans, need I remind you of the similar situations your own businesses have faced?
Take Tylenol for example, although it has been over twenty years, at one time poison was found in the pain-relief capsules, killing 7. This has resulted in packaging reforms in all over-the-counter substances.
Mistakes happen, it's how a corporation responds to these fatal errors that defines them.
In a Canadian perspective, I would argue that Maple Leaf remained far from "tight lipped" and were the first to admit their wrong doing. During this crisis, Maple Leaf responded to the public in a sensitive and transparent manner. They have implemented extensive safety procedures and positioned themselves as advocates for food safety.
Nothing will bring back the 22 lives lost of my fellow Canadiens, but as a consumer I am more than comfortable purchasing Maple Leaf products knowing these safety protocals are in place.
I'm shocked to hear Americans feel so passionately about food safety. Some of your leading food franchises are polluting the health of millions. You're the land of rising child obesity rates, diabetes and heart disease. So perhaps you should shift your focus on educating bloggers on another form of "food safety".
I'll take Maple Leaf over McDonald's any day.