Calgary Halal Stores Closed for Selling Uninspected Meat

Investigators from Alberta Health Services issued closure orders to four halal grocery stores in Calgary this past Friday, along with an additional order on a related halal warehouse and distribution center. These actions come in response to allegations that these establishments were engaging in the purchase and resale of uninspected meat, a violation of Alberta’s food safety regulations.

One of the affected businesses, Shawdesi Bazaar Foods and Catering, situated near Calgary International Airport, was specifically cited for evidence indicating the sale of uninspected meat. A recorded message informed callers on Saturday that the business was temporarily closed for maintenance, planning to reopen on Monday.

Historical AHS inspection records reveal persistent issues at Shawdesi Bazaar since 2021, including incidents involving untraceable sources of frozen food.

Similarly, Bismillah Meat & Grocery, located in Calgary’s northeast and known for its extensive selection of Pakistani groceries and halal meats, was shut down under the same allegations. The store is required to meet stringent conditions before reopening, such as verifying that all meat sold is sourced from approved suppliers. Attempts to contact the store on Saturday were unsuccessful, and there has been no public acknowledgment of the closure on its digital platforms.

Additional closures included Mustafa Madani Halal Meat and Groceries and Maher Halal Meat Butchery and Grocery. The latter not only faced similar violations concerning uninspected meat but was also cited for severe cockroach infestation, with both live and dead insects found throughout the premises.

Cadalow Halal Meat and its retail branch, Alta Halal, faced shutdowns for distributing uninspected meat products. Alta Halal announced on Facebook a temporary closure due to unresolved municipal paperwork.

Despite multiple attempts, none of the closed establishments responded to inquiries from CBC News, and a spokesperson from Alberta Health Services refrained from commenting further beyond confirming the closure orders.

The closure of five such establishments in a single day marks a significant and unprecedented action in Alberta. Uninspected meat poses substantial health risks, as it bypasses the critical safety checks that prevent the distribution of meat carrying diseases like bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or pathogens such as E. coli and Listeria.

Lynn McMullen, a meat microbiologist and professor at the University of Alberta, emphasized the importance of the inspection system in an interview. She noted that without these inspections, there is no oversight to detect diseases in animals before they enter the food supply, potentially leading to serious public health risks.