NEW ANNAN, PEI – Cavendish Farms is cooperating fully with the RCMP investigation regarding foreign metal material found in recently harvested (2014) potatoes from a local Island farm.  On Thursday, October 2, 2014 foreign metal material was detected during the course of a normal production run of French fries at our New Annan Plant #2 on Prince Edward Island.

ALL French fries associated with this production are being destroyed.  All raw potatoes that may have been involved have been quarantined away from the Plant site by the RCMP as they may be required for evidence.  We identified and have notified Linkletter Farms, the supplier of the recently harvested 2014 raw potatoes involved in the incident.

Cavendish Farms reported the incident to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). CFIA have been at the plant and reviewed the response taken by the company.  Because all October 2, 2014 production and raw potatoes from Linkletter Farms did not leave the Cavendish Farms site, a recall was not ordered.

“Our established food safety processes and technology worked as they were designed. Food safety is the number one priority for Cavendish Farms. We have very diligent processes, including technology and trained personnel to ensure the highest standard of food safety and quality,” said Bill Meisner, Vice-President Operations. “The foreign material was detected through our Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) processes and technology.  Our employees responded as trained. The plant was shut down to determine the origin of the foreign material.  All products from the October 2, 2014 production run are being destroyed.” 

Production resumed on the afternoon of Friday, October 3, 2014 and has continued without incident.

Cavendish Farms’ quality assurance and food safety processes functioned as intended and respected all necessary and normal precautionary measures associated with world-class food production.

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Contact:
Mary Keith
(506) 632-5122
(506) 650-8209 (cell)
keith.mary@jdirving.com