All parties are to be commended for the prompt and pro-active attention given to the potato tampering incidents last week. Both cases were discovered in Newfoundland and Labrador in product shipped by Linkletter Farms in Summerside where a metal object was inserted into the potatoes.

Consumer confidence is an essential part of the Island’s potato industry. As producer Gary Linkletter said, his company spent many years and a lot of money to produce a quality, safe and nutritious product. After packing and shipping potatoes for decades, this is the first such incident for his company.

Mr. Linkletter, who is also chair of the P.E.I. Potato Board, wasted no time in notifying the Canadian Food Inspection Agency when he became aware of the tampering and voluntarily recalled all the potatoes he has shipped this fall — three tractor-trailer loads. The CFIA quickly notified Atlantic Canadians about the case of possible food tampering and urged consumers to check potatoes shipped by Linkletter Farms throughout Atlantic Canada.

Mr. Linkletter’s next call went to the RCMP who are launching a full investigation with a team including major crime, forensic identification and East Prince detachment all involved. Thankfully, no one has been injured or made ill associated with eating these P.E.I. potatoes. The incidents received national coverage, which is obviously not the sort of publicity the industry needs at any time.

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