Meatloaf and vegan loaf served days before an E. coli outbreak at several Calgary daycares was likely the cause of the infections, said Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMO) Dr. Mark Joffe at a news conference on Sept. 27.
Dr. Joffe said an investigation had been conducted and found the food was the most likely source of the bacterial spread.
“One meal in particular came out with extremely high odds of being the source of infection based on our investigation. We believe that meatloaf and vegan loaf meals that were served for lunch on August 29 most likely contain the E. coli bacteria that led to these infections,” he said.
The exact ingredient could not be determined as the food item had been eaten or discarded before the outbreak, Dr. Joffe said.
The E. coli outbreak was first declared on Sept. 4. The CMO said there were 351 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli connected to the outbreak and 37 confirmed secondary cases. At least 13 children were hospitalized and several suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication affecting the blood and kidneys. About six children were reported to be receiving dialysis in mid-September. Four children are still in hospital, he said.
“The good news is that the number of new infections has plateaued and most of the children connected to this outbreak have been cleared to return to daycare,” said Dr. Joffe.
Review Panel to Investigate Government Policy
A third-party investigation will be done into food safety policies following the E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares, Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith announced at the press conference.
“I’m announcing the creation of an external review panel led by former Calgary police chief Rick Hansen to conduct a comprehensive review of government policy and food safety practices to keep our children safe,” Ms. Smith said.
“Mr. Hansen will be joined by Alberta parents, childcare operators, food service operators, and food safety and public health experts. The panel will be examining all aspects of this tragic situation, large and small, as well as taking a full broader look at the legislation and regulations that govern food safety in our province.”
She said that the panel has been asked to look at various aspects of food safety in childcare facilities.
“Some parents mentioned that they wished that the kitchen inspection reports were posted at the daycare where they could be seen, not just online. This is one example of potential policy changes that the panel needs to examine,” Ms. Smith said.
The premier requested that the panel also review the inspection process, including the consequences for food operators with repeat violations, in addition to safety training requirements for kitchen staff, and potential barriers to accessing the latter. She also wants the panel to look at food handling requirements, such as temperature control and storage.
“Let me be clear, these are just a few of the areas the panel will examine and through their work, they may find other areas to focus on and they can and will pursue those,” Ms. Smith said.
The premier said no timeline has been agreed upon but she would like to see a final report by January 2024.
“[Mr. Hanson] just felt like we needed to make sure that it was thorough and didn’t want to rush it,” she said. “I want to just be respectful of the fact that I don’t think people want to rush the report. I think they want a full and complete investigation.”
Calgary Charges Food Provider
The City of Calgary has laid charges against the company responsible for the food served at the childcare centres that experienced the outbreak.Operators of Fueling Minds face a charge of operating without a business licence, according to a city press release. The charges were laid after the city discovered the company was providing third-party food services to five Calgary childcare centres.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) issued a closure order for six daycares in Calgary, all operated by Fueling Minds. Several violations were reported online by AHS in connection to the central kitchen used to prepare the food. Some violations included live cockroaches in the dishwashing area, improper handling of food, and problems with kitchen equipment, such as the cooler.
Ms. Smith’s government has offered a $2,000 compassionate payment to families impacted by the daycare closures.
On Sept. 8, a class action lawsuit was filed in the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. One parent was the representative plaintiff, according to the National Post.
