'Major health risk': Calgary halal butchery shut down again by AHS

Content of the article

A northeast Calgary business that was allowed to reopen along with several others in early May has been ordered to close again after failing to comply with previous enforcement orders, according to Alberta Health Services.

Saleh Obeid, owner of Alta Halal Meat, was issued an oral closure order last week following a re-inspection of the business on May 17, which found unclear seals on lamb carcasses.

Content of the article

Content of the article

“A joint re-inspection with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Meat Inspectors confirmed that the inspection stamps were not legitimate,” AHS said in an emailed statement.

Stamps found in the meat of three lambs and one goat were declared illegal. Alta Halal Meat remains closed while the meat is seized by authorities and investigated by AHS and Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.

The closure order was issued for failure to comply with conditions set forth in the AHS Health Order, which prohibits the receipt of uninspected meat, AHS said.

The latest closure order follows a similar order issued in April to eight businesses, including Alta Halal Meat.

AHS issued the initial closures following a public health alert after receiving notification from the Alberta RCMP that the businesses were connected to an investigation into the illegal slaughter of sheep and lambs.

That investigation resulted in non-criminal charges, an RCMP spokeswoman said Wednesday; however, no further information will be provided until early June.

Content of the article

Content of the article

The butcher has just secured after getting permission to reopen

Obeid said in an interview Tuesday that local supplier Alberta Fresh Meat Ltd. said that he buys from his company and bought more after he was allowed to reopen his business.

Asked if he knew the stamps were illegal, Obeid said: “Absolutely not, it's legal and stamped and released.”

According to Obeid, the inspectors were confident of the authenticity of the inspection marks.

“(They) showed me that stamp, (they) said 'no, it's fake' and blamed me, they blamed the farm supplier.”

Azad Islam, owner of Alberta Fresh Meat Ltd., said Wednesday that Alta Halal supplies lamb and sometimes goat, but there is confusion about where the brands come from.

“Whether they're taking (meat) from me or not — they said they did — but there's a 50-50 chance, I don't know,” Islam said.

Alberta Fresh Meat Ltd. company Alta Halal Meat sold eight sheep and no goats according to Islam.

The stamps were questionable, he said, explaining that the meat tested may not have come from Alberta Fresh Meat Ltd.

Content of the article

Islam said that he has an inspector at his company during slaughtering: “I can't slaughter anything without him.”

Alberta Fresh Meat Ltd. on Wednesday. When asked, AHS did not say how they were involved in any investigation, but noted that the latest investigation into Alta Halal Meat is ongoing.

Obeid of Alta Halal Meat lamented the second closure.

“I told them… 'that's not my way and I don't know what you're talking about.'

“I'm with the law, I'm not against the law, but it's not the law — the law applies to the wrong person,” Obeid said. “It's not my part, if the seal is clear or not, it's not my problem – you should go to the main store.”

Now he's faced with disposing of the meat, all of which has cost his business nearly $4,000.

“If a customer comes to your store and reads a closing message twice a month, that means you have something wrong. How can he trust you?'

Obeid spoke about the need to restore trust with consumers and how he plans to dispose of the meat.

“We are going back from scratch. It's affected my work, it's affected my reputation, it's affected my customers.”

Content of the article

The AHS has warned that consuming untested meat poses serious health risks.

“Having uninspected meats inside the facility poses a risk through cross-contamination of other foods through food processing surfaces and equipment,” the report said.

“Anyone who has purchased meat or meat-containing products from this business should immediately discard the products and watch for signs of a gastrointestinal bacterial infection,” the health department said.

AHS inspectors use education, written warnings, warning letters, or a supervisor's order requiring the work to be completed or the facility to remain closed.

“If these measures are ineffective, an inspector may initiate a compliance review of AHS, take legal action or obtain a Crown Court order,” AHS said.

Content of the article