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XL Foods Inc.

The Western Stock Growers' Association has been following the XL debacle and providing council to the Alberta Government and others as required. This incidence has taken on a life of its own with impacts and consequences far reaching within the industry, government and the public.

How could this have grown to what it has become? In early September the USDA raised an alarm as E-coli was discovered in boxes of meat going across the US border. A seemingly slow response from the CFIA may have led to the closure of the US border to XL beef. It is curious how a batch of meat was recalled and then each day for several days a new announcement on what appears to be meat from the same batch was announced with the consequence of keeping the issue front and center on the public's mind for an extended period of time.

For sure E-coli was present and it sadly made 15 people sick across the country. Thankfully no one succumbed to their illness. It is curious how E-coli in lettuce is barely a blip on the radar and nearly all of the other E-coli disasters never required the industry involved to be run over by a bus. This leads to wonder who bears responsibility and who should be held accountable. Whether it is called an inquiry or investigation or something else, we need to arrive at the truth.

WSGA Response to XL Recall

Below are the written communications sent out from WSGA in response to the XL Recall.

In the media

Additional Information