Ontario Pork - Food Safety

Food Safety

Ontario pig producers are very aware of the importance of providing consumers with a safe food supply and they take that responsibility very seriously. They eat the same foods as you do. Today’s producers are highly educated and use the latest technology – products and equipment – to feed, care for, monitor and keep records on the animals under their care.

Canada has a global reputation for producing safe, high quality food. Producers must follow a number of Provincial and Federal guidelines.

FOOD SAFETY RESOURCES
TOPIC	TYPE	SAMPLE OF DOCUMENT CONTENTS
Ontario’s Meat Inspection System	Web Link	Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) webpage with information about Food Inspection information for meat producers.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)	Web Link	Food safety is the CFIA's top priority. The CFIA, along with many federal, provincial and municipal organizations, is working to improve the overall health of Canadians. The CFIA develops and delivers programs and services designed to protect Canadians from preventable food safety hazards, to ensure that food safety emergencies are effectively managed, and that the public is aware of--and contributes to--food safety.
Canadian Quality Assurance Program	Web Link	The Canadian Quality Assurance (CQA) is the on-farm food safety program for Canadian hog producers. The program was developed and is maintained by the Canadian Pork Council, the national association for Canada's hog producers.
Health Canada: Food and Nutrition	Web Link	Safe food and good nutrition are important to Canadians. Maintaining the safety of Canada's food supply is a shared responsibility among government, industry and consumers. Eating a nutritious and balanced diet is one of the best ways to protect and promote good health.
Food Inspection Agency: African Swine Fever	Web Link	African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious viral disease of swine. In Africa, the virus is found in wild pigs and ticks and is transmitted readily between these two hosts. Susceptibility to the disease can vary between species of pigs. ASF causes high mortality rates in infected domestic pigs, European wild boars, and American wild pigs.
Canadian Animal Health Institute Food Safety Facts	Web Link	Everyone involved in the agri-food system works hard to produce an exceptionally safe and wholesome supply of food. Producers, veterinarians, feed manufacturers, animal health companies, government and consumers all have a role to play. In the animal health industry, our goal is to ensure that animal-sourced foods are safe – by prudently using pharmaceuticals and ensuring food will be free from harmful residues.