Evaluation Report of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Activities Related to Imported Acidified and Low Acid Canned Vegetables

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Abstract

Imported acidified and low acid canned vegetables (IA/LACV) are regulated by two CFIA Programs, namely, the Processed Products Program (PPP) and the Food Safety Investigation Program (FSIP). The mandates of the PPP and the FSIP are based on enforcement of the Processed Product Regulations and the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations respectively, which both address the safety of IA/LACV. The rationale for the involvement of two programs in the regulation of IA/LACV is included as an evaluation issue. The evaluation questions related to program design and management, delivery, and outcomes, however, all focus on the Processed Products Program only, in order to provide a concise, focussed evaluation report.

These evaluation questions form the basis for assessing the effectiveness of the CFIA's food safety activities related to IA/LACV. The evaluation used a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies that included: literature reviews; environmental scans; reviews of documents and files; collection and analysis of available electronic and hard copy data; and stakeholder input via interviews using structured interview guides.