Top samosa maker’s federal license pulled

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Published: June 18, 2013

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An Edmonton processor of Indian-style entrees and appetizers that bills itself as the country’s largest maker of ready-to-eat samosas has temporarily lost its federal license.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday it has suspended the license for Aliya’s Foods, maker of the Chef Bombay line of packaged appetizers and entrees.

CFIA said the company’s plant on Edmonton’s east side “has failed to document and address product cooling issues during pre-shipment review, and failed to address allergen control issues.”

There’s no product recall connected to this suspension, CFIA said, but added it would take “immediate action” if any “potentially contaminated” product is identified.

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The suspension, effective Monday, will remain until CFIA is satisfied that the company has “fully implemented the necessary corrective actions,” the agency said.

Privately-held Aliya’s, founded in 2000, was federally licensed as a further-processor of poultry and red meats, and as an exporter to the United States.

The company’s Chef Bombay products include deep-fried chicken, beef and vegetable samosas and vegetable pakoras, as well as entrees including beef vindaloo, chicken biryani, butter chicken, chicken tandoori and channa masala, a vegetable dish made with chickpeas.

The company also makes private-label products for the food service sector and companies such as Safeway, Trader Joe’s and McCain Foods.

The company on its website emphasizes its food-quality programs which map out its objectives and responsibilities in “all aspects of food production,” and that its products are made according to “established specifications and exceeding all regulatory requirements.”

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