Calgary E. coli outbreak shines a light on daycare food safety, experts say

In provinces where there's no requirement that child-care centres supply food, such as Alberta, experts say there aren't robust regulations around food handling.

An outbreak of E. coli that’s sickened hundreds has shone a much-needed spotlight on food safety at daycares, experts said as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pledged to consider further regulations in shared kitchens.

There have been 337 lab-confirmed cases of the bacterial infection in the Calgary outbreak, and though an investigation is ongoing, officials believe it is linked to a shared kitchen — Fueling Minds Inc. — that serves local daycares.

“I know parents want answers, and so do I,” Smith said at a press conference on Friday. “That’s why we’re conducting a review of all shared kitchens that serve child-care centres. We will explore regulations and make changes if needed.”

Canada is in the midst of building up its child-care system with a recent cash infusion from the federal government, and so far food hasn’t been a big part of the conversation, said Martha Friendly, executive director of the non-profit Childcare Resource and Research Unit.

Different provinces have different rules around what food should be provided at daycares: some require that the centres supply food for kids, while others require only that they serve food, which may be packed by parents.

In provinces that require daycares provide food — whether they get it from a central kitchen or make it on-site — public health rules about handling that food generally apply in the child-care facility, Friendly said.

But in provinces where there’s no requirement that child-care centres supply food, such as Alberta, there aren’t robust regulations around food handling, she said.

Large kitchens do have to follow public health rules, she said, but it can be tempting for for-profit companies to skimp when it comes to expensive safety protocols.