The federal government will apply all 57 recommendations suggested by a report that examined last year's Listeria outbreak in meat that left 22 people dead.
The government will hire 166 new staff, including 70 food inspectors who will focus on ready-to-eat meats. The remaining employees will provide surveillance, risk assessment and will work at food testing labs, which will now be operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
At a news conference announcing the new measures, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the new measures would cost $75 million.
The report by Sheila Weatherill recommended that meat plants report all potential health threats to the government including, but not limited to, positive bacteria tests.
It also said manufacturers must make meat processing equipment easier to clean, and that Ottawa should review the training process for food inspectors.
The ministers announced that measures will also be taken to help inform the public of potential food-borne threats.
This includes producing fact sheets with food safety tips for bagged lunches, as well as making the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's website more user-friendly to encourage Canadians to seek out information on any recalls.
The Public Health Agency of Canada said it will provide simulation training to new staff beginning this fall.
The government said it is in the process of hiring an auditor to look at the inspection resources. The results of the audit will be available in the new year.
