Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods has set up an independent Food Safety Advisory Council in a bid to boost its food safety credentials.

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The company, which was involved in a listeria outbreak linked to 20 deaths last year, said that the move was designed to improve its food safety standards.


The council will review Maple Leaf’s safety strategy, provide insights into emerging global food safety risks and provide guidance on employee education and training.


“The primary mandate of the council is to challenge the status quo of Maple Leaf’s food safety program so we continue to raise the bar ever higher,” said Randy Huffman, chief food safety officer.


Sitting on the advisory board will be: Dr Harvey Anderson, University of Toronto; Professor Colin Dennis, from the International Agri-Technology Centre; and Dr Mansel Griffiths, director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety and chair of the Masters Program in Food Safety at the University of Guelph.

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Dr R Bruce Tompkin and John Weisgerber, former director of quality for a “major” North American meat processor, will also be on the board.


 “These individuals bring immense food safety knowledge to the council and will support our commitment to becoming a global food safety leader,” Huffman added.

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