U.S. ends increased testing of Canadian meat

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Canadian meat and poultry exports will no longer be subjected to increased U.S. testing after audits of the country's meat system showed it was safe, the U.S. Agriculture Department said in a letter to Canadian officials.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service early this month began double testing Canadian meat -- including pork and poultry -- in an effort to detect E. coli 0157:H7, salmonella and listeria. The increased testing began on November 9.

The extra meat tests came after an outbreak of E. coli in several U.S. states was traced to beef from a Canadian company, Ranchers Beef, this year.

William James, an acting assistant administrator with FSIS, said in the letter that two audits were completed in Canada this month. One audit found "unsafe practices in Ranchers Beef were not employed by other establishments" and that seven other plants where problems were identified between May 1 and June 6, had taken corrective action.