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Fake inspection stamps found on meat, shop owner says health authorities should investigate suppliers, not him
Published on May 22, 2024 • Last updated 12 minutes ago • 3 minute read
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Wholesaler Cuddalore Halal Meats and retailer Alta Halal Meats in northeast Calgary on Monday, April 22, 2024. The AHS has issued closure orders to multiple grocery stores for allegedly buying and selling uninspected meat. Steven Wilhelm / Postmedia
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The northeast Calgary business was allowed to reopen along with several others in early May, but was ordered to close again after failing to comply with previous enforcement orders, according to Alberta Health Services. That's what it means.
Saleh Obeid, owner of Alta Halal Meat, was given a verbal closure order last week after a re-inspection on May 17 found some unclear stamps on the lamb carcasses. Ta.
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“A joint re-inspection with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Meat Inspectors confirmed the inspection stamp was not genuine,” AHS said in an emailed statement.
The stamps on three lamb carcasses and one goat carcass were deemed illegal. The meat has been seized by authorities and Alta Halal Meat will remain closed while AHS and Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation investigate.
According to AHS, the closure order was issued due to failure to comply with conditions set out in an AHS health enforcement order that prohibits the receipt of uninspected meat.
The closure order follows similar orders issued in April to eight businesses, including Alta Halal Meats.
AHS issued a public health alert following the initial closure after being notified by Alberta RCMP that these businesses were linked to an illegal livestock slaughter investigation involving sheep and lambs.
An RCMP spokesperson said Wednesday the investigation concluded with non-criminal charges. However, no further information will be provided to him until early June.
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Butchers had just restocked after being allowed to reopen.
Obeid said in an interview Tuesday that he buys his meat from local supplier Alberta Fresh Meat Co. and has bought more since businesses were allowed to reopen.
When asked if he knew the stamps were illegal, Obeid said: “Absolutely not. They are legal, they were stamped and issued.”
Inspectors were adamant about the authenticity of the inspection stamps, Obeid said.
“When[they]showed me the stamp, they said, 'No, it's a fake,' and they blamed me and they blamed the farm supplier.”
Azad Islam, owner of Alberta Fresh Meat Co., which supplies Alta Halal Meat with lamb and in some cases goat meat, said Wednesday there was confusion over the origin of the stamps. .
“Whether they are taking it (meat) from me, they say they took it from me, but there's a 50-50 chance, I don't know,” Islam said.
Alberta Fresh Meat Co., Ltd. sold eight lambs and no goats on a last-order basis for Alta Halal Meat in accordance with Islam.
He called the stamp questionable, explaining that the meat tested likely did not come from Alberta Fresh Meat.
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Islam said his company has inspectors at each slaughter operation. “Without the inspectors, nothing can be slaughtered.”
When asked Wednesday about Alberta Fresh Meat, AHS would not say whether or not it was involved in the investigation, but stressed that the latest investigation into Alta Halal Meats is still ongoing.
Mr. Obeid of Alta Halal Meat expressed his dissatisfaction with the second closure.
“I told them… 'This is not my way and I have no idea what you're talking about.'”
“I'm for the law, I'm not against the law, but this is not the law. The law is being applied to the wrong people,” Obeid said. “This is not my problem, and whether the stamp is clear or not is not my problem. I have to go to the main store.”
He's now faced with having to dispose of the meat, which he says all together cost his business about $4,000.
“If a customer comes into your store and reads that you're closing twice a month, it means there's something wrong with you. How can he believe you?”
Obeid spoke of the need to rebuild trust with customers and how he plans to dispose of the meat.
“We're going back to square one. It's affected my job, my reputation, my customers.”
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The AHS warned that consuming untested meat poses serious health risks.
“The presence of uninspected meat in a facility also poses a risk, with the potential for cross-contamination of other foods through food processing surfaces and equipment,” the report states.
“People who have purchased meat or meat-containing products from this vendor are instructed to immediately discard these products and be on the lookout for symptoms of a gastrointestinal bacterial infection,” health officials said.
AHS inspectors may use education, written warnings, warning letters or enforcement officer orders to require completion of work or continued closure of the facility.
“If these measures are not effective, inspectors may initiate an AHS compliance review, take legal action or apply for a Crown Bench order,” AHS said.
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