Food safety engagement

Overview

The Government of Alberta is considering the implementation of recommendations from the Food Safety and Licensed Facility-Based Child Care Review Panel’s final report and continues to gather input from Albertans and other key stakeholders. We want to hear more from the foodservice industry on select topics. 

Get informed

The Government of Alberta is investigating the implementation of the Food Safety and Licensed Facility-Based Child Care Review Panel (Review Panel) recommendations. If the recommendations are implemented, some legislation may need to be updated, and those updates could affect the broader foodservice industry.

Background

On September 4, 2023, Alberta Health Services (AHS) declared an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in multiple licensed child care facilities in Calgary linked to a shared kitchen. In response, the Government of Alberta appointed an external review panel to identify opportunities for strengthening the legislation and inspection processes that govern food safety in kitchens servicing licensed facility-based child care, and the child care settings themselves.

The Review Panel submitted its final report to the Minister of Health and the former Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade, outlining a series of recommendations to better protect the health and safety of Alberta’s children in these settings.

See pages 12 and 13 of the Review Panel’s final report for information on the activities the Review Panel undertook to inform their recommendations.

Other resources

• Public Health Act
  • Food Regulation
  • Institutions Regulation
  • Food retail and foodservices code
• Alberta Health Services - Information for Businesses (including food facilities)

Get involved

From March 2 to March 22, 2026, members of the foodservice industry are invited to complete an online survey on the potential implementation of a food safety inspection grading system or a food safety culture excellence recognition program. The list below includes individuals and groups who may be interested in providing feedback, which includes:

• owners and operators of businesses or facilities that serve food and hold an Alberta food handling permit
• staff working in commercial food establishments, such as managers, chefs, cooks, and servers
• associations or organizations representing the foodservice industry

Take the survey

Stakeholder engagement

• Spring 2025: Albertans were invited to complete an online survey on food safety in the context of the Review Panel’s recommendations from March 24 to April 21, 2025. Additional stakeholders shared their perspectives through written submissions requested in March 2025.
• Fall 2025 to early 2026: Building on feedback received in the spring of 2025, we are engaging the foodservice industry on the potential implementation of a food safety inspection grading system or a food safety culture excellence recognition program.
  • Fall 2025: Relevant associations and organizations were invited to provide written feedback.
  • Early 2026: Virtual meetings were held with associations that represent the foodservice industry.
  • March 2 to March 22, 2026: The broader foodservice industry is invited to participate in an online survey. 

Outcomes

 Feedback received from current and past food safety engagements will help inform decisions related to:

• the potential implementation of the Food Safety and Licensed Facility-Based Child Care Review Panel’s recommendations
• the potential implementation of an Excellence Program
• Alberta’s public health legislation, regulations and policies related to food safety, and
• potential future food safety engagement opportunities

See the Food Safety and Licensed Facility-Based Child Care Review Panel web page for updates on the implementation of the Review Panel’s recommendations.

Contact

For questions regarding the food safety engagement:
Email: [email protected]