A veterinarian or highly trained inspector examines every animal, every carcass and all organs in federally registered plants. Any meat unfit for human consumption is condemned and destroyed, or rendered into inedible by-products. Problems are traced back to the producer and corrected to ensure that neither the health of consumers nor Canada's reputation as a leading pork exporter are jeopardized. Our product is under scrutiny not only by Canadian inspectors but also by inspectors in 50 countries to which we export our product. Agriculture Canada has about 300 veterinarians and 1,200 inspectors working in the area of meat inspection.
Inspectors collect thousands of random samples that are tested for dozens of different chemicals.
In this way, Agriculture Canada maintains their reputation and ensures Canadians that their fresh and processed meat products are wholesome. Consumers insist that the pork they buy should be safe and wholesome. The Canadian pork industry could not agree more. The livelihood of almost 30,000 pork producers and their families depend on consumer trust in the food they produce. That is why the pork industry takes seriously the results from a 1990 survey conducted by the Consumers' Association of Canada.