A commercial kitchen company pleaded guilty Thursday to four bylaw offences after a massive E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares led to hundreds of children falling ill.
Fueling Minds Inc. was charged after the eight-week outbreak that was declared in September 2023.
There were at least 448 infections, and 39 children and one adult were hospitalized because of severe illness.
The pleas came at what had been scheduled as the first day of trial, and a joint submission from lawyers recommended a fine of $10,000.
Justice Mathieu St. Germain said he wants time to review the facts and set a sentencing decision for May 27.
The judge stated, “As we know, this is an important matter, and it must be handled with the same care as you have in negotiating this agreement.” Now it’s my turn to give it the same level of care and make a decision.”
The day after the outbreak was declared, the company was flagged for three health violations, including a lack of proper sanitization methods, a pest infestation that included cockroaches, and food being transported without temperature control. Health officials have stated that Fueling Minds provided breakfast, lunch, and snacks to its own daycares as well as several separate daycares.
Guilty pleas to bylaw charges in connection with E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares
