Judge certifies $16M class action in Edmonton, Alberta, E. coli outbreak tied to Hutterite colony pork

The Meat Shop at Pine Haven, which is associated with the Pine Haven Hutterite Colony and the Hutterian Brethren Church of Pine Haven in central Alberta, is the subject of a $16-million class action over an E. coli outbreak. According to a report published in April 2018, a judge has certified the suit, which alleges that the defendants failed to prevent and contain an outbreak linked to contaminated pork products from the colony. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency traced the contaminated pork to The Meat Shop at Pine Haven.

The outbreak occurred in the spring of 2018. Reports differ on the number of hospitalizations. One report states that 14 people were hospitalized and five developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, while another states that 13 affected individuals required hospital care. Both reports describe 42 illnesses linked to pork contaminated with O157:H7, and both report one death, though one describes it as a person believed to have died as a result of the infection.

According to the April 2018 report, about half of the affected individuals had eaten pork at Mama Nita’s, a Filipino restaurant in southeast Edmonton that has since closed. The plaintiffs are seeking $15 million in damages and an additional $1 million in special damages. About 45 people are involved in the suit. Edmonton lawyer Rick Mallett estimates that the trial could take up to two years. The suit’s aim of seeking redress for people who were harmed reflects the principle of protecting the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8-9).

A separate report states that Alberta Health Services has declared the E. coli outbreak linked to the Hutterite colony meat shop over. The agency said additional cases may still be confirmed in the coming weeks and urged the public to check their freezers for recalled products. The meat shop has been cleared to resume selling pork products after the outbreak investigation concluded.