Calgary halal stores closed by AHS can now reopen
Alberta Health Services (AHS) says all of the uninspected meat found at several halal food stores and grocers in Calgary has been destroyed and the affected facilities have been cleared to open.
- Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
In mid-April, AHS issued closure orders for the following eight businesses after uninspected meat products were found at each of the locations:
- Alta Halal Meat - 6426 36 St. N.E., Units 150 and 155;
- Bismillah Meat and Grocery - 4250 109 Ave. N.E., Unit 4110;
- Madina Halal Meat and Grocery - 4656 Westwinds Dr. N.E. Unit 510;
- Maher Fresh Halal Meat - 3517 17 Ave. S.E., Unit 101;
- Mediterranean Halal Meats and Deli - A3917, 17 Ave. S.E.;
- Mustafa Madani Halal Meat and Grocery – 7 Westwinds Cr. N.E., Unit 109;
- Shawdesi Bazaar – 55 Westwinds Cr. N.E., Unit 131; and
- Shawdesi Foods and Catering - 55 Westwinds Cr. N.E., Unit 127.
On Friday, AHS announced it had rescinded closure orders for seven of the eight.
Four food businesses reopened on May 1 and three are expected to reopen on Friday.
The closure order for the eighth and final store, Maher Fresh Halal Meat, remains in place, but AHS said it should be able to reopen sometime in the next few days.
"As directed by (Environmental Public Health), all uninspected meat has been destroyed and the facilities have been cleaned under scrutiny of an AHS public health inspector," AHS wrote in a news release Friday.
"The operators were also required to sign an agreement that going forward they will only acquire and provide food from an approved source. These were all required actions before the closure orders could be rescinded."
No illnesses have been connected to the uninspected meat, AHS says, but officials are now reaching out to the public, particularly those who may have shopped at any of the above locations.
"Anyone who purchased meat or products containing meat from the Calgary-based businesses below before April 23, is instructed to dispose of these products immediately and watch for symptoms of gastro-intestinal bacterial infection. This includes leftovers brought home from any meals eaten at any of these businesses," AHS said.
Health officials are also advising the public to look out for any symptoms of food-borne illness, which could include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps.
"Some foodborne illness can cause a high fever and blood in your stool. Most of the time, foodborne illnesses are mild and go away after a few days."
An investigation into the origin of the uninspected halal meat is ongoing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
North Korea informs Japan of a plan to launch military spy satellite
North Korea has told Japan it plans to launch a satellite by early next week, an apparent effort to put its second military spy satellite into orbit.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.