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In 2015, CPMA members identified food safety as a top priority to ensure the ongoing viability and growth of the fresh produce sector. A single food safety incident in one commodity group or segment could have devastating repercussions throughout the industry. To address this risk and ensure ongoing leadership, CPMA established the Canadian Food Safety Fund (CFSF) to finance Canadian-focused research, education, and outreach.
The Fund supports projects on pathogens, regulatory changes, and best practices. It ensures CPMA members remain at the forefront of food safety in Canada while also contributing to North American and global knowledge sharing.
Goals of the CFSF
Governance
The Canadian Food Safety Fund is governed by CPMA’s Board of Directors, which has oversight of all CPMA activities. The Food Safety Technical Sub-Committee reviews research proposals and makes recommendations to CPMA’s Food Safety Committee (FSC). The FSC identifies successful proposals and determines how funding is allocated to ensure the Fund delivers value to members.
Benefits to CPMA Members
The CFSF provides tangible benefits to CPMA members of all sizes. Members gain access to educational opportunities, cutting-edge research projects, and resources that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive for individual businesses. They also receive expert advice on Canadian market conditions and can propose or participate in commodity-specific projects to address challenges unique to their operations. By contributing to the CFSF, members support the development of new knowledge and practices that improve efficiency, safety, and competitiveness across the fresh produce sector.
Funding and Partnership Opportunities
Funding for the CFSF comes primarily from contributions by CPMA members. A modest annual contribution is requested, along with opportunities for members to sponsor specific projects. CPMA also seeks matching funds from federal, provincial, and territorial governments, as well as co-sponsorship opportunities with academia and like-minded associations.
Pooling resources through the CFSF ensures that all CPMA members doing business in Canada benefit from initiatives that would be cost-prohibitive for individual companies.
CFSF Contributors
The CFSF is made possible through the generous support of the following contributors:
CFSF Research Projects
The Fund supports leading Canadian universities and research institutions in projects that directly address food safety challenges in the fresh produce sector. Current and recent projects include:
- University of Guelph
- Field Ready, Point of Need Detection of Foodborne Pathogens in Irrigation Sources
- Integrated post-harvest wash systems for fruit and vegetable decontamination, reducing water usage and disinfectant by-products in wastewater streams
- University of Manitoba
- Université Laval
- McGill University
- Polyethersulfone-Based Microfluidic Device Integrated with DNA Extraction on Paper and Recombinase Polymerase Amplification for the Detection of Salmonella enterica
- Evaluating the biocontrol potential of Bacillus velezensis OB9 against pathogenic microorganisms on fresh produce (In progress)
- Detection and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh produce by artificial intelligence of things (In progress)
We encourage you to check back regularly for new opportunities and information.
On behalf of industry, CPMA works closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on the development and implementation of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). These regulations harmonize food safety rules across commodities and help ensure consumer confidence in Canada’s food supply.
CPMA has provided extensive guidance to help members comply with SFCR requirements. Key resources include:
Canada recognizes ten priority food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts), milk, eggs, seafood (fish, crustaceans, shellfish), soy, wheat, sesame seeds, mustard, and sulphites.
Preventing allergic reactions is a shared responsibility of consumers, industry, and regulators. CPMA encourages members to adopt strong allergen control practices and clear labelling to minimize risks. CFIA is responsible for enforcing labelling laws and works with industry to ensure compliance.
Additional resources:
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issues recalls in cases of food safety hazards, including physical, chemical, or biological contamination. Most recalls are voluntarily initiated by companies to protect public health.
CPMA works with CFIA to provide industry input into recall procedures and to notify members when they may be impacted. Members receive timely communications outlining recall information and guidance to support recovery efforts.
Resource:
CPMA provides access to documents and webinars to support members’ food safety efforts.
Documents
- Health Canada – Listeria guidance in ready-to-eat foods (Q&A)
- When To Do Root Cause Analysis
- Conducting Root Cause Analysis
- CFIA Form #5961
Webinars