Ont. concerned over federal plans for national food tracking system

Ontario Health Minister David Caplan says he is concerned about reports the federal Conservatives intend to allow the food industry to police itself.

Federal Health Minister Tony Clement says new legislation would create a national food tracking system.

He says it would put together a system to track food through the supply chain allowing authorities to quickly deal with it if a problem is found.

A secret federal cabinet document leaked last month suggested the Conservatives intend to hand responsibility for inspections over to the food industry.

The government has neither confirmed nor denied  the details of its planned changes.

"We can track a given food source, a given food supply [and] if there's a problem, find out quickly, deal with the problem and make sure Canadians are protected," said Clement of the tracking system.

"It's part of the Stephen Harper plan to protect food safety and consumer safety generally," added Clement, who was in Denver for the Democratic National Convention.