This month the Alberta beef industry was dealt a blow, and the effect continues to reverberate.
    Early in September American and Canadian officials detected E. coli. By September 16 a recall of ground beef products was introduced and the list of affected products keeps growing.
    Last week the US banned the importation of Alberta beef. As well, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) suspended the operation of the Brooks plant of XL Foods.
    Last Friday local grocers pulled beef products tied to XL Foods recall off the shelf.  
    Darryl Jacques, manager of Freson Bros. IGA in Drumheller said he has seen customers staying away from some products.
    “It has slowed down a bit,” said Jacques, adding that consumers can help protect themselves by using best food preparation practices.
    “The thing about E. coli is to cook your meat properly and do not cross contaminate. That is something we should all be aware of at all times, not just at times of heightened alert.”
    The Drumheller Co-op’s main supplier is XL Foods, and on Friday all of its fresh beef was pulled from the shelf.    
    Before this, manager Gordon Van Kannel said  the store had not seen a whole lot of impact from the initial  recalls.
    “We have been providing the customers  with as much information as we can, and directing them to the (CFIA) website,” he said.
    “Customer confidence and food safety are going to be the real issue here, they have to ensure that every product  leaving that plant is food safe."
    He adds that if the recall continues, the Co-op could  look to other suppliers.
    “That has yet to be decided right now,” said Van Kannel. “But it could change because we have to maintain a counter.”
    The turmoil in the industry has producers concerned.
    “It puts a hindrance on the market and scares people away from beef for a while, but I hope it comes back,” said Brad McDougald, an area producer.
    “A few years ago there was Listeria, but people went back to eating meat again, North Americans love their beef.”
    He said the solution is simple and that is for XL Foods to clean up their act.
    “Hopefully XL Foods takes the steps they need to do to rebuild confidence in people that they are doing the proper cleaning procedures,” said McDougald. “It is all at the packing plant, it’s not the beef, it’s the machines and the cleaning procedures.”
    He hopes this sorts out quickly.
    “The actual solving of the problem at the packing plant is probably already fixed. It shouldn’t take long to clean the machines and shut it down. Now it has to go through all the political hoops and the public scrutiny to have people believe it’s safe and get back to eating beef.”
    “I think it will come back around,” he said.
    In the meantime Michelle Ahner of Riverside Packers said they have seen an increase in business  since the recall.
    She said if the recall continues, consumers may be more concerned about where their food is coming from.            “I could see them leaning toward  the smaller  places and the local farmers,” she said.

    The Honourable Doug Horner, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Finance and the Honourable Kyle Fawcett, Associate Minister will be through the valley next week to hear from Albertans about budget priorities.
    The ministers are hosting public consultations on Tuesday, October 9 at the Badlands Community Facility. Mayor Terry Yemen said this was an election promise from Alberta Premier Alison Redford.
    “That’s what she said during the election campaign, she was going to send ministers throughout Alberta to see the people and talk to people,” said Yemen. “We like dialogue, but what we like better is results from dialogue, and sometimes that doesn’t happen as frequently."
    He said one priority he would like to see addressed is funding for seniors housing.
    “That is a burning issue, there is a lot of work needed on Sunshine Lodge. Requisitioning doubled this year and right now it’s scheduled to double again next year so it's not fair to keep putting that cost to people of Drumheller. It’s time for the Alberta government to step in and make that right,” he said.
    The meeting is October 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Those interested in participating in the meeting can RSVP to tbf.minister@gov.ab.ca