Farm-Scape is sponsored by Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork Play Audio Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.

Farm-Scape, Episode 1288

The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's decisive and transparent response to a BSE incident in Alberta has helped maintain consumer confidence in the safety of the Canadian Food supply.

The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors represents 80 percent of retail grocery and food service sales in Canada.

Vice President of Communications Kim McKinnon says the meat purchasing patterns of Canadian consumers have remained consistent with those of one year ago, in spite of the BSE situation.

"What the grocery industry sees from the Canadian consumer is someone who hasn't changed their habits verses year ago as a result of BSE.

They're exhibiting the same purchase habit for pork, for beef, for poultry as they have in the past.

What that suggests to us is that they're confident in our system and in our ability to continue to provide safe food for Canadian consumers.

The majority, three quarters of Canadians, are OK with our food safety practices and feel confident that Canada has the ability to provide safe foods to Canadians.

As the grocery industry we have the utmost confidence in the processes that the CFIA has gone through to ensure that they communicated to our industry and to consumers the situation as it unfolded on a day to day basis.

I think, because communications were timely, it maintained the consumer confidence".

McKinnon says, moving into the barbecue season, sales of beef, pork and chicken have been strong.

She says the message from consumers is that they are aware there are issues but they trust the beef, pork, poultry and grocery retailing industries to sell safe food products and they're continuing to purchase those products.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.