5 Calgary businesses closed by AHS for selling uninspected meat

Alberta Health Services (AHS) issued closure notices for five Calgary businesses Friday, saying there was evidence uninspected meat had been bought and sold at the locations across the city.

Orders were issued for Cadalow Halal Meat/Alta Halal Meat on 36 Street NE, Mustafa Madini Halal Meat and Groceries on Westwinds Crescent NE, Bismillah Meat & Grocery on 109 Avenue NE, Shawdesi Bazaar on Westwinds Crescent NE, and Maher Fresh Halal Meat on 17 Avenue NE.

A report mandating the closure of Maher Fresh Halal Meat also says the business is suffering from a “significant” cockroach infestation, and live and dead cockroaches were found throughout the building. The business had been cited on numerous occasions over the past three years for various public health violations.

AHS inspectors have issued a number of requirements for the businesses to meet before they are allowed to re-open.

These include the hiring of a pest control company to eliminate the cockroach issue and establish a pest management program and implementing of sufficient cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces and equipment.

All businesses have also been ordered to provide evidence to AHS that all prepared, processed, and displayed food is from an approved source, and also provide a list of all food suppliers.

The owners have also been told to give copies of all their receipts and invoices for all meat products from the past three months to the health department.

RCMP investigating stores for illegal slaughtering

RCMP say several stores in Calgary are linked to an investigation into the unlawful dealing and the illegal slaughter of sheep and goats in southern Alberta.

Police say their livestock unit began investigating in November. The investigation involved a number of individuals, many rural locations, and several stores in Calgary.

RCMP say they notified AHS of seven stores that are part of the investigation.

Police will not confirm that these stores are the same ones that AHS are looking in to due to the ongoing investigation.