This month the Alberta beef industry was dealt a blow, and the effect continues to reverberate.
Early in September American and Canadian officials detected E. coli. By September 16 a recall of ground beef products was introduced and the list of affected products keeps growing.
Last week the US banned the importation of Alberta beef. As well, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) suspended the operation of the Brooks plant of XL Foods.
Last Friday local grocers pulled beef products tied to XL Foods recall off the shelf.
Darryl Jacques, manager of Freson Bros. IGA in Drumheller said he has seen customers staying away from some products.
“It has slowed down a bit,” said Jacques, adding that consumers can help protect themselves by using best food preparation practices.
“The thing about E. coli is to cook your meat properly and do not cross contaminate. That is something we should all be aware of at all times, not just at times of heightened alert.”
The Drumheller Co-op’s main supplier is XL Foods, and on Friday all of its fresh beef was pulled from the shelf.
Before this, manager Gordon Van Kannel said the store had not seen a whole lot of impact from the initial recalls.
“We have been providing the customers with as much information as we can, and directing them to the (CFIA) website,” he said.
“Customer confidence and food safety are going to be the real issue here, they have to ensure that every product leaving that plant is food safe."
He adds that if the recall continues, the Co-op could look to other suppliers.
“That has yet to be decided right now,” said Van Kannel. “But it could change because we have to maintain a counter.”
The turmoil in the industry has producers concerned.
“It puts a hindrance on the market and scares people away from beef for a while, but I hope it comes back,” said Brad McDougald, an area producer.
“A few years ago there was Listeria, but people went back to eating meat again, North Americans love their beef.”
He said the solution is simple and that is for XL Foods to clean up their act.
“Hopefully XL Foods takes the steps they need to do to rebuild confidence in people that they are doing the proper cleaning procedures,” said McDougald. “It is all at the packing plant, it’s not the beef, it’s the machines and the cleaning procedures.”
He hopes this sorts out quickly.
“The actual solving of the problem at the packing plant is probably already fixed. It shouldn’t take long to clean the machines and shut it down. Now it has to go through all the political hoops and the public scrutiny to have people believe it’s safe and get back to eating beef.”
“I think it will come back around,” he said.
In the meantime Michelle Ahner of Riverside Packers said they have seen an increase in business since the recall.
She said if the recall continues, consumers may be more concerned about where their food is coming from. “I could see them leaning toward the smaller places and the local farmers,” she said.