Calgary company at centre of daycare E. coli outbreak fined $10K for bylaw offence
The Calgary catering company at the heart of a daycare E. coli outbreak has been fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to bylaw offences. Fueling Minds Inc. was found to be operating without a food services business licence at the time of the outbreak, which occurred in September 2023. Justice of the Peace Mathieu St-Germain accepted the guilty plea and imposed the fine.
The outbreak affected at least 448 people, mostly children, with 39 children and one adult being hospitalized. 23 of those patients were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. The City of Calgary traced the outbreak back to Fueling Minds, a catering company that provided food to local daycares.
An investigation by Alberta Health Services determined that the E. coli likely originated from a beef meatloaf served from Fueling Minds’ central kitchen on August 29, 2023. The company’s two directors had initially faced charges, but these were withdrawn at the sentencing hearing.
During the plea hearing, it was revealed that Fueling Minds did not have a catering licence at the time of the outbreak, although they did have a kitchen licence. The company’s lawyer, Steve Major, described this as an “administrative box that was not checked.”
In the aftermath of the outbreak, multiple lawsuits were filed against Fueling Minds, including a proposed class-action suit that is ongoing. The company has faced significant scrutiny and legal challenges as a result of the E. coli incident.
The $10,000 fine serves as a reminder of the importance of proper licensing and food safety practices in the catering industry. It is crucial for businesses to adhere to regulations and ensure the health and safety of their customers. The consequences of failing to do so can be severe, as demonstrated by the serious consequences of the E. coli outbreak linked to Fueling Minds.
