Shoppers in Canada can't see when inspectors find food over the residue limits but no recall follows.

The problem, broken down

Who it hurts

Shoppers in Montreal and across Canada who want to choose food with full information, including imported produce.

The moment

Learning from the news, years later, that a product on the shelf had failed inspections they were never told about.

What people do today

Only recalls are published. Findings that end in corrective action are closed without a public notice.

Why it's unsolved

The food safety agency publishes notices only when it judges there is a health risk that warrants a recall, partly to avoid hurting producers whose products are safe.

What solved looks like

A public, searchable record of inspection findings by product type and country of origin, with what was found, the action taken and why no recall was needed, published in a way that informs without singling out safe producers.

Builders still need to know

• Which inspection results can be released under access-to-information rules today?→
• How could findings be shown by product type and origin without harming compliant brands?→
• Would retailers display the record at the shelf if it existed?→