How E. coli got in daycare meat loaf, sickening hundreds, may never be known, says report

A report into a massive E. coli outbreak at Calgary child-care facilities that saw hundreds fall ill says it was likely tied to meat loaf at one meal, but how it got there can't be determined for sure.

The report released Monday by Alberta Health Services (AHS) says it's not possible to say if the bacteria came from a contaminated ingredient in the meat loaf or got into the meat loaf from elsewhere on the menu, or through an infected kitchen worker.

The E. coli outbreak, declared on Sept. 4, 2023, led to at least 448 infections.

Thirty-eight children and one adult were hospitalized for severe illness.

Of the severe cases, 23 were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that damages blood vessels and kidneys and can lead to life-threatening kidney failure.

Eight received peritoneal dialysis, which is done to remove waste products from the blood when the kidneys are failing.

Another 33 secondary cases have also been linked, including household contacts and children in other daycare facilities.

There were no deaths.

The outbreak was linked to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, or STEC for short.

"This is the largest gastrointestinal outbreak in AHS history and likely one of the largest STEC outbreaks involving child-care facilities anywhere," said the report.

"The central kitchen served up to 1,275 attendees and 250 child-care facility workers during the period in question, in addition to exposures to kitchen staff and people in the community who ate leftovers."

The eight-week outbreak was traced to Fueling Minds, a catering company and school lunch delivery service provider that prepared food for its Fueling Brains locations and other daycares in Calgary.

The report narrowed the E. coli down to a single meal served from the Fueling Minds central kitchen on Aug. 29, 2023.

"One meal originating from the central kitchen came out with extremely high odds as being the source of inspection. The beef meat loaf served at lunch on Aug. 29, 2023, was the probable food item containing the E. coli," said the report.