New Alberta bill to prevent sale, distribution of illegal meat and increase food safety enforcement
Posted October 30, 2024 7:31 am.
Alberta’s government will table a bill aimed at enforcing food safety and preventing the sale and distribution of illegal meat Wednesday.
The issue was thrust into the spotlight last fall, when 446 cases of E. coli were traced to a central kitchen thought to be distributing tainted meat loaf and vegan loaf to several daycares in Calgary. The owners of the commercial kitchen are facing 12 municipal charges and a fine of up to $120,000.
They have pleaded not guilty and are set to head to trial in the spring.
Since then, several other instances of sickness and illegal sale and slaughter have made the news.
Just last week, two Calgary grocers were reprimanded by Alberta Health Services for having uninspected meat in their freezers and selling uninspected eggs for retail.
In April, an RCMP investigation led to the closure of eight Calgary businesses, all found to be selling uninspected meat. Four Calgary residents were later arrested and charged for their alleged role in the sale and slaughter of the meat.
Details of the bill are being kept under wraps until it is tabled in the Legislature Wednesday afternoon.
