7 halal meat outlets closed in Calgary as RCMP investigate unlawful slaughter and sale

Terry Reith · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 22, 2024 7:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: 34 minutes ago

The list of Calgary halal meat outlets forced to close due to public health orders grew to seven on Monday, as the RCMP announced an investigation into unlawful livestock dealing and illegal slaughter operations in Southern Alberta.

Five retail outlets and a food wholesaler and distribution warehouse were served with closure orders on Friday. A catering business associated with one of the retailers was forced to close on Monday.

Alberta Health Services says the closure orders were prompted by the RCMP investigation. In response to questions from CBC News, a spokesperson wrote that the sale of illegal meat prompted the closures "to ensure the public is protected until a thorough investigation can be completed."

The business ordered closed are:

• Shawdesi Foods & Catering, 55 Westwinds Crescent NE.
• Shawdesi Bazaar, 55 Westwinds Crescent NE.
• Bismillah Meat & Grocery, 4250 109th Avenue NE.
• Mustafa Madani Halal Meat and Groceries, 7 Westwinds Crescent NE.
• Maher Fresh Halal Meat, 3517 17th Avenue SE.
• Cadalow Halal Meat, 6426 36th Street NE.
• Alta Halal Meat & Donair, 6426 36th Street NE.

None of the businesses have replied to calls or emails from CBC News. All remain closed.

The closure orders cite the purchase and sale of uninspected meat.

AHS says the businesses will remain closed until a full food source investigation can be completed. After that, each facility will be required to prove that all food within the establishment is from a safe legitimate source.

As the RCMP continues its criminal probe into the meat sales, AHS is carrying out its own investigation and may consider public health charges.

Lynn McMullen, a meat microbiologist and professor at the University of Alberta says the sale of uninspected meat can pose serious dangers to the public.

"The health risks that food-borne pathogens pose to consumers range from anything from a minor episode of gastroenteritis, maybe some vomiting, some diarrhea right through to kidney failure and death," said McMullen.

Uninspected means officials cannot find a legitimate source for meat being sold to the public.

Under Canada's food safety system, any meat offered for sale must be inspected provincially or federally to ensure it is not carrying any agents that cause diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which is found in cattle, or scrapie, which is found in sheep and goats. Inspections also ensure meat isn't infected with bacteria that can cause human illness.

It's unknown whether anyone has been sickened by exposure to meat sold at the outlets. AHS says it is concerned about the significant number of facilities involved.