Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says the health and safety of Canadians is Ottawa’s first priority.
   
He said at a news conference in Calgary that the Harper government has added 700 food inspectors since 2006 — parroting what Prime Minister Harper said in the Commons yesterday while under attack from the Opposition over the massive beef recall.
   
Ritz says he visited the X-L Foods plant in Brooks, Alberta this morning, adding there’s a “full contingent” of inspectors and staff testing and examining all products and procedures in the plant.
   
Hundreds of beef products from the X-L plant have been recalled across the country over fears of E-coli contamination.