Increased complaints of unlicensed at-home food providers in Calgary leads to uptick in inspections, says AHS
CBC
Alberta Health Services says it's receiving an increase in complaints related to caterers operating out of their homes without a valid food-handling permit in Calgary, leading to an increase in inspections of these types of businesses.
In a statement to CBC, AHS said its Environmental Public Health (EPH) team regularly deals with issues pertaining to food-handling permits in the city.
"Permits and an inspection system are in place to provide assurances that food supplied to Albertans is safe," said AHS in its statement.
"Without oversight and enforcement, the potential for outbreaks related to food-borne illness is increased."
According to the AHS website, four Calgary food establishments have been issued closure orders for operating without valid food-handling permits already in 2024. Ten were issued closure orders in 2023.
That marks a rise in closure orders related to unlicensed operations since 2021 and 2022, when one and four food establishments were shut down, respectively. (2021 and 2022 were years that also experienced lockdowns due to COVID-19).
AHS said it encourages those who wish to start a food service business to contact its EPH division to start the licensing process so that food handling is carried out in a safe way.
Gaurav Punj is someone who's been through that process, and said it was straightforward.
Punj owns and operates Mansi's Kitchen in northwest Calgary. It's a fully licensed tiffin business that predominantly serves south Asian students and families seeking the same kind of Indian dishes they'd get back home.
They serve two dishes a day, which are made fresh every morning before being delivered to roughly 200 customers throughout the city.
"We also started [our business] from home," said Punj.
"We were also not licensed, but eventually we knew that we had to be in a licensed place. Without being in a professional kitchen, I don't think you can serve a proper meal."
Once he realized they needed a permit, Punj said the process to get one with AHS was easy.
"I think we called them [and] in two days everything was done," he said.
The RCMP has not recruited enough new officers or effectively assigned its members to meet its operational needs, according to a new report from the auditor general — raising concerns about public safety across the country.
Oil prices fell Monday morning after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would hold off on striking Iran’s energy infrastructure amid productive talks between the two countries.
Premier Doug Ford says his government plans to give Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport special designation that would allow the province to bypass municipal and provincial laws as it pushes to expand the runway downtown.
Jenelle Hughes says she worries every time her two older children take their car to get to Fanshawe College in London, Ont., from their home in Dutton.
Oil prices fell Monday morning after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would hold off on striking Iran’s energy infrastructure amid productive talks between the two countries.
While spring technically started late last week, Newfoundland and Labrador isn't free from winter weather just yet.
The Sudbury School Bus Consortium is suspending all school buses in Greater Sudbury as the community continues to clean up following a major storm.
Two large corporate landlords owning a combined 9,008 rental units in Halifax are reporting smaller annual increases in their average rents for 2025 than the previous year.
The Holt government has reached a deal with Ottawa on compensation for tens of millions of dollars in lost sales tax revenue from the Christmas season in 2024.
The government of Saskatchewan has announced plans to reduce the length of non-resident game bird hunting licences to combat illegal guiding.
An 87-year-old Alberta man is fighting extradition to the United Kingdom to stand trial for historical allegations of physical and sexual assault involving minors.
Eight casinos across southwest B.C. have been sold to First Nations in the last two years, with the province's gambling scene set to be reshaped as a result.
Hamilton hosts the Junos Sunday, and the musical awards show is bringing tourists, musicians, concerts and a ton of themed events to the city this week.