The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has temporarily halted the operations of Goodfood, a meal kit and grocery delivery service based in Montreal. The suspension of the Safe Food for Canadians licence, announced in a press release by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on Wednesday, does not involve any product recalls.
Under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, businesses involved in manufacturing, processing, preserving, or packaging food for interprovincial or territorial distribution must possess a valid licence. The CFIA stated that the licence suspension will be lifted once the necessary corrective actions have been implemented by Goodfood.
The compliance issues at Goodfood were specifically linked to section four of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, which focus on preventive controls, as mentioned by the federal agency. Failure to address the non-compliances within 90 days of suspension may result in the cancellation of the licence, as per the CFIA statement.
The CFIA highlighted that Safe Food for Canadians licences can be suspended for various reasons, including failure to adhere to the regulations, non-payment of associated fees, or posing a risk of harm to the public by continuing operations.
In response to the licence suspension, a spokesperson from Goodfood Market Corp. expressed disappointment with the decision affecting the Montreal facility but reassured customers that the Calgary facility remains fully operational. The spokesperson emphasized that product safety and quality standards are maintained, with the suspension primarily related to procedural issues rather than food safety concerns.
Goodfood has requested a review of its file and is optimistic about addressing any perceived gaps promptly. The company aims to minimize the impact on customers, ensuring that orders across the country will continue to be fulfilled, albeit with some exceptions.