MEDIA ADVISORY - What's in Your Lunchbox? Recalled lunchboxes spotlight cuts to Canada's food safety experts ahead of back-to-school

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)

OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 21, 2026 /CNW/ -- As families prepare for another year of packing school lunches, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) is asking Canadians one simple question:  What's in your lunchbox?

At a visual media event, PIPSC will unveil school lunchboxes filled with recently recalled food items, highlighting the public scientists, veterinarians, inspectors and other experts who work behind the scenes to keep unsafe food off tables and out of lunchboxes, and warning that those experts are now being cut at scale.

Members of the public will also be invited to test their luck by choosing the "safe" lunchbox, learn more about Canada's food safety system, and discover why food safety doesn't happen by accident – it takes experts.

Event Details:

What: What's in Your Lunchbox? – A back-to-school media event highlighting cuts to Canada's food safety workforce.
When: Tuesday, August 25, 2026. 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET
Where: ByWard Market, 6 York Street, Ottawa, Ontario
Media Availability: PIPSC President, Sean O'Reilly

Visuals

• School lunchboxes filled with recalled food items.
• Giant shopping list with recalled products crossed off.
• Interactive "Choose the Safe Lunchbox" challenge.
• "What's in Your Lunchbox?" materials and QR code to PIPSC's It Takes Experts campaign against federal public service cuts.

PIPSC represents over 80,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government. Follow us on Facebook, on Bluesky and on Instagram.

SOURCE Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)

For more information: PIPSC media relations, [email protected]