Should Alberta Introduce Restaurant Food Safety Grades?
Official title: Food safety engagement
After an E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares in 2023, Alberta is rethinking food safety rules. The government wants to know if restaurants should display inspection grades—like the letter grades you see in some cities—or if there's a better way to recognize food safety excellence.
Why This Matters
Ever wonder how clean that restaurant kitchen really is? This could change what you see before you eat out. If Alberta adopts inspection grades, you'd know at a glance whether a place passed with flying colours or barely scraped by. Parents with kids in daycare have extra reason to pay attention—this started because of a serious outbreak.
What Could Change
Restaurants and food businesses might have to display their inspection grades publicly. Alberta could also create a recognition program for businesses with excellent food safety practices. The Public Health Act and related regulations may be updated to strengthen inspection requirements.
Key Issues
- Should restaurants be required to display food safety inspection grades?
- Would a food safety excellence recognition program be more effective than grades?
- How should food safety legislation be updated following the daycare outbreak?
How to Participate
- Read the Food Safety and Licensed Facility-Based Child Care Review Panel's final report to understand the recommendations being considered.
- If you're part of a relevant association or organization in the foodservice industry, you may be invited to provide written feedback. Contact foodsafetyengagement@gov.ab.ca for more information.
Submit Your Input
Questions Being Asked (2)
- What are your views on implementing a food safety inspection grading system?
- Would a food safety culture excellence recognition program be effective?