Central kitchen connected to historic E. coli outbreak in Calgary daycares cleared to open by AHS
Posted Nov 27, 2023 3:28 pm.
Last Updated Nov 27, 2023 3:29 pm.
The province says the central kitchen connected to the historic E. coli outbreak that affected multiple Calgary daycares this fall has re-opened and will be inspected on an “increased frequency” over the next few weeks to ensure ongoing safety and identify any emerging concerns.
An inspection of Fueling Brains Academy Centennial kitchen on Nov. 15 led Alberta Health Services (AHS) to rescind the order to close two days later.
AHS says all violations have been fixed.
As part of the agreement allowing the kitchen to re-open, the province says the business can operate at limited capacity, out of the inspected facility only.
It also says the company won’t prepare full meals or transport food to other child-care sites. It will receive and serve meals from Meals on Wheels, a third-party contractor.
The outbreak was first declared on Sept. 4, and was linked to a central kitchen used by the daycares throughout the city.
WATCH: Company charged for providing meals to E. coli affected Calgary daycares without license
Eleven sites received tainted food from the kitchen, thought to be meatloaf and vegan loaf, which led to 448 cases of E. coli — 358 cases were lab-confirmed and 90 were considered probable (people who had symptoms and were linked to the outbreak in some way but who didn’t have a positive E. coli stool test).
There were 32 lab-confirmed secondary cases linked to the outbreak.
Alberta Health Services said on Oct. 31 in an announcement declaring the outbreak over, that 30 kids and one adult were hospitalized, and 23 of those patients were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Eight of those patients required dialysis.
The province provided details Monday on the make up of the panel constructed to lead a review into food safety in kitchens that provide food to licensed childcare facilities in Alberta, something that was promised by the UCP government in the midst of the outbreak.
Former Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson will lead the panel, which is made up of people from various background in both the for-profit and not-for-profit childcare sectors, the food service industry, and experts in food safety and public health.
According to the province, the panel’s first meeting was on Nov. 2 and more will be held throughout the winter.
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A final report with findings and recommendations is expected in the spring.
The province says the group will review the Public Health Act, the Food Regulation, the Institutions Regulation, the Early Learning and Child Care Act and regulations, and any applicable standards, guidelines or operating procedures to improve food safety in licensed child-care facilities.
The company is also the subject of a $10 million class action lawsuit, filed on behalf of impacted families at the end of September.
Last week, the two directors of KidsU Centennial, operating as Fueling Brains Academy and Fueling Minds Incorporated — Faisal Alimohd and Anil Karim — pleaded not guilty to several municipal bylaw charges,
The city alleges the catering company had been operating without a food services business license.
If convicted, the business could be on the hook for fines up to $120, 000.
