The great fear of any meat company would be the realization that contaminated products have reached the marketplace. It could be bacteria such as E. coli or Listeria or a foreign object concern, but the recall action and the subsequent government evaluation is sure to test the mettle of any processor. If a company has a strategy in place to deal with the event, it can survive the recall with its reputation and customer base intact.

One of the best ways to make it through a recall is to have prepared for such an event. Cardinal Meat Specialists experienced a product recall in 2007, when hamburger product that had tested positive for E. coli was traced back to the Mississauga, Ontario processor. “Thanks to the preventative efforts of our team, the recall itself lasted only four days,” says Brent Cator, president. There was one illnesses associated with the recall, and the resulting government scrutiny and investigation did become overwhelming at times.