Sampling is a critical tool in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) approach to verifying that food products in the Canadian marketplace are safe and what they claim to be.
This is a multi-step process.
Step 1: Sampling design
CFIA adapts its sampling design regularly, in response to:
- Previous sampling results
- Ongoing and emerging risks, unusual trading patterns, tips and complaints
- Information sharing with international counterparts
- The latest science
We use this information to design our sampling approach for the most impact.
Step 2: Identify the best sampling approach
The main types of planned surveillance the CFIA conducts are:
Unbiased monitoring
This sampling is usually random and can be done at various types of establishments, including domestic processors, importers, and marketplace sampling at retail locations.
It is used to ensure that food on the market in Canada meets Canadian standards, obtain baseline data, monitor trends and various other functions.
Targeted risk-based
This design is biased as it is used to collect samples that are at higher risk for non-compliance.
As with unbiased sampling, it can happen at various levels of trade, such as domestic producers, importers and retailers.
Both types of planned sampling can be done on various types of products (such as prepackaged, bulk, or ingredients for further processing), while marketplace sampling at retail is done on consumer prepackaged foods.
Directed sampling
CFIA also takes directed samples that are usually unplanned and responsive to triggers such as suspected health risks, complaints, inspection findings, or information shared by other countries.
Step 3: Test
Samples are then sent for analysis to one of the CFIA's 13 laboratories or to a private laboratory under contract to the CFIA.
Step 4: Take enforcement action
When non-compliance is found, the CFIA takes appropriate enforcement action.
Step 5: Use results to further refine design
Results are then used for designing future sampling approaches for even more impact.
When we target products at higher risk for non-compliance, testing results are not representative of overall compliance rates within the Canadian marketplace. Through our risk-informed approach, consumers can be confident in the federal inspection system.
Additional links
- Enforcement actions taken
- Food safety for industry
- Sampling procedures
- Food sampling and testing terminology
- Food chemistry and microbiology
- Food safety testing reports and journal articles
- How food testing helps keep you safe
- Streamlining food testing at the Dartmouth Laboratory
- Putting fish DNA to the test