No mention of the food industry's work on Grocery Code of Conduct.   Ottawa-The country's five largest grocery chains agreed to take steps to stabilize food prices by Thanksgiving in a meeting with Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne but there was no mention of the Grocery Code of Conduct being developed by the agrifood sector. Champagne said the grocery chains must not negatively impact small suppliers, the price that farmers receive for their products or the pricing mechanisms of supply-managed industries. The meeting was called by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but he did not participate in it as the government had to cope with revelations that Indian government officials were implicated in the murder of a Sikh activist in B.C. earlier this year. Champagne said his two hours of difficult discussions with the grocery executives were much needed. “We know the price of food in particular is affecting all Canadians.” The meeting produced “a step in the right direction. We'll keep on pushing them. This is just the beginning, but we're going to bring price stability in Canada.” Karina Gould, the government leader in the Commons, told reporters the government shares the public's concerns about high food prices. “While inflation is on its way down, the price of groceries is simply too high. Canada's biggest grocery stores are making record profits while Canadians struggle to afford food. This is simply not acceptable.” The government expects the grocery chains “to come up with a plan that will address the rising cost of food and stabilize grocery prices, and if their plan does not provide real relief to Canadians, we will rule nothing out, including tax measures. Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) said before the meeting that there are many complexities and intricacies involved in food pricing. “We believe that using taxation as a punitive measure on retailers, especially at this time, is not only ill-advised but might have a detrimental ripple effect on the whole food supply chain, including food producers.” FHCP said it expects food price inflation to continue to decline. “Furthermore, it is important to highlight the significant progress and efforts made by many across our industry towards a Grocery Code of Conduct that reflects our ongoing commitment to stabilize the grocery sector and manage costs for the benefit of all Canadians.” Food inflation does not stem from a single source but is a culmination of many diverse factors, including weather related issues, supply chain events and war related disruptions, FHCP said. “Let's work collaboratively towards viable and sustainable solutions that collectively support Canadians and the retailers/suppliers counted on to provide the many food products they rely on every day.” Kristina Farrell, CEO of Food and Beverage Canada, said its members “are facing inflationary pressures and contending with escalating expenses across their operations. We are open to participating in discussions aimed at finding solutions to address food prices, recognizing that collaboration between stakeholders and government is crucial in addressing these complex issues effectively.” She hoped an update on the Grocery Code would come soon.