XL Foods has broken its silence and has issued a news release talking about the measures being implemented at its beef processing plant in Brooks, Alberta.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) yanked the company's license and temporarily closed the plant last week after several E.coil cases were reported in Alberta and Saskatchewan. This prompted a massive product recall.

XL says it takes full responsibility for the plant's operations and the food it produces.

The Brooks plant will undergo a number of improvements including remote video auditing, extending the high pressure wash, increased computer monitoring and a new re-designed training program for employees and management.

XL also promises to add additional quality control personnel to each shift with primary duties to monitor all sanitary dressing programs and practises.

The XL news release also says "when we re-open our plant under the direction of the CFIA, we will start with limited production runs with intensified testing protocols. We will work collaboratively with the 48 CFIA inspectiors who work at the XL Foods facility to ensure nothing like this ever happens again."

The head of the of the CFIA, George Da Pont says the plant will not reopen until the regulatory body is completely satisfied.

"Once we are satisfied that they will be able to continuously implement them on a consistent basis . . . and for a period of time, we will also have enhanced surveillance and enhanced CFIA testing."

Saskatchewan's agriculture minister is sending a letter to the federal government complaining about the handling of the recall. Lyle Stewart says he is unhappy with how the CFIA has dealt with the problem and is concerned about the impact the Brooks closure is having on cattle producers.