Tag Archives: Real Canadian Superstore

Grocery store caught giving fish new best-before date in BC

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CTV News reports that during an early morning undercover visit to the Real Canadian Superstore at 3000 Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam, British Columbia (that’s in Canada) a CTV News camera captured footage of an employee in the fish section selecting salmon steaks from the display and putting them behind the counter, where she wrapped them in new plastic.

But the fish didn’t just get a new wrapper — it also received a new label. Minutes earlier, the salmon had been displayed with a best-before date of Dec. 5, but when it was re-wrapped, the new best-before date was Dec. 9.

On Dec. 8 — one day before the new best-before date — CTV News took the salmon to Kevin Allen (left, exactly as shown, on a different network), a microbiologist at the University of B.C. The verdict was already clear.

"That meat is unquestionably spoiled. The smell is quite strong and rather unpleasant," he said.

Allen warns that what the store has done could allow dangerous pathogens more time to grow.

"As a consumer and a food microbiologist, this isn’t what we want to see," he said. "Without doubt, at this point, in my opinion, this is meat that shouldn’t be consumed."

Superstore declined an interview, but issued a statement explaining their policy is: "that when modification to packaging is required the original best-before dates are maintained. We have reinforced this policy with the pertinent store…. We apologize if there is any concern on the part of our customers."

Other grocery stores in Metro Vancouver told CTV News they don’t re-wrap food or change the best-before date.

A video is available at http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110104/bc_fishy_fish_110104/20110104?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
but it doesn’t seem to be working at the moment.

Real Canadian Superstore discovers rodent control

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The folks that run Canada’s largest grocery store chain – Loblaw Companies –are apparently just learning about pest control. They are also learning that consumers can take pictures with their cell phones and can actually use those phones to call local health types.

The Calgary Herald reports that public complaints prompted health inspectors to visit the Westwinds location of the Real Canadian Superstore 17 times in just over a year before it was ordered closed Tuesday after the discovery of live mice, rodent feces and gnawed packaging.

Rick Holley, a microbiology professor in the University of Manitoba’s department of food science, believes shoppers have every reason to be squeamish at the thought of mice scampering over produce or gnawing on potato chip bags.

"Mice are vectors for salmonella. They carry it and shed it not unlike chicken, cattle or hogs.”

Doug Powell, an associate professor of food safety at Kansas State University, said,

"People might think, ‘What’s the big deal about a little mouse poop?’ But it’s an indicator there could be a whole lot else going on.”

The incident comes weeks after a Loblaws store in Toronto — part of the same company as the Superstore chain — was shut down after a "heavy infestation"of mice and rats, including droppings on sandwich counters, was found.

Company spokeswoman Inge van den Berg said the two occurrences have prompted the store to revamp its pest control procedures.