If you’re looking for ‘The Guy Can’t Cook’ contest, click here.
This week, for listeners outside of the BC region, you’ll hear a story about how new meat inspection regulations are threatening the livelihood of farmers, and meat and poultry processors in British Columbia, particularly on Vancouver Island. At left is Lyle Young of Cowichan Bay Farm and Farmhouse Poultry, who has invested a great deal of his own money to keep his farm alive, as well as those of other small farmers on southern Vancouver Island. You can listen to the 6-minute documentary in mp3 format by clicking here . You can get more information on these regulations by visiting the appropriate pages on the BC Centre For Disease Control website. And if you’re thinking of upgrading our starting your own meat processing facility, be sure to visit this page from the BC Food Processors Association.
Hi Don . Most Canadians are not aware that Agriculture Canada is amending the Dairy Act to allow changes to the Cheese Regulations .The changes reduce dairy content and literally ,Water Down , the cheese and former regs that made Canadian Cheese, especially Cheddar , a top agriculture product. The rational for the move is that there is too much consumer confusion and the reduction of standards will clear up the problem . The present regulations for cheese have not been enforced by the athourities for several years and the major players in the industry , Kraft , Parmalat , Safeway etc. , have all been making look a like processed cheese items that do not meet the requirements of the Dairy Act. Slices and spreads have reduced dairy content and more water and emulsifiers added. They add the term “Product”, to the Regulated name to inform the consumer that the Processed Cheese Food , that was once in the package ,
is no longer included with the familiar lable. The Feds have been confused for the last 5 years about what to do with this problem . It looks like the amending the rules to permit the status quo is the easy way out for the government. It does not serve the consumer. A lot of big money is involved in this issue. Check the Canada Gazette to get the announcement of the proposed change. Regards , LW