Province pledges to improve food safety in wake of Calgary’s E. coli outbreak

The Alberta government says it's moved ahead on some key recommendations, but it wants more input from residents on pressing issues about food safety.

The United Conservative government says it is taking action to improve food safety in Alberta more than a year-and-a-half after an E. coli outbreak affected multiple child-care facilities in Calgary.

In a release on Wednesday, the province said it has reviewed the recommendations from a formal report into the Fueling Minds E. coli outbreak and “immediate action was taken” on the key recommendations.

Danielle Smith, Mark Joffe, Searle Turton, Adriana LaGrange Dr. Mark Joffe, centre, Alberta chief medical officer of health, speaks to the media about an E-coli outbreak at several Calgary daycares, as, left to right, Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services, look on in Calgary, Alta., Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

Those recommendations include “establishing clear expectations and a framework for public health inspections,” the province said.

Now, it says it wants to continue that work by asking Albertans what they want to see in terms of food safety.

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Beginning March 26, Albertans can submit responses to an online survey regarding how to implement those recommendations and improve the province’s public health legislation, regulations and policies about food safety.

“Public engagement is a key part of our commitment to doing everything we can to protect Alberta’s most vulnerable populations. The feedback we receive will give us a full perspective, helping ensure we consider every angle as we look to make changes to current food safety regulations,” Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said in a release.

On Sept. 4, 2023, Alberta Health Services (AHS) declared an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli at 11 licensed child-care facilities in Calgary.

That outbreak was linked to Fueling Minds, a catering company that provided meals for its Fueling Brains child-care centres and multiple other Calgary businesses.

Six more child-care facilities were added to the outbreak list before it officially ended 51 days later.

A total of 448 cases were linked to the outbreak, including 359 lab-confirmed cases and 89 probable cases. Some of those infections were serious, with 38 children and one adult needing treatment in hospital.

Of the severe cases, 23 were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that damages blood vessels and kidneys and can lead to life-threatening kidney failure.

There were no deaths.

Officials say if the other recommendations in the final report are implemented, it could lead to improvements in food safety in the entire food service industry.

The survey is open until April 13.