July 25, 2025
CALGARY – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has identified a gastrointestinal outbreak at the food facility within the Saskatoon Farm in Foothills County located at #20 80181 338 Ave E, Foothills County, AB. Based on current testing, the outbreak is presumed to be E. coli and amoebiasis.
If you consumed food, beverages, or water at the facility between July 1-16 please follow the appropriate guidance:
Individuals with gastrointestinal symptoms
If you have experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain, it is recommended you call Health Link at 811 for assessment and testing.
Individuals without symptoms
It is recommended you call Health Link at 811 on or after July 30 for amoebiasis screening.
Amoebiasis may not result in immediate symptoms but it can lead to serious illness. Out of an abundance of caution we recommend affected people get screened to help ensure the appropriate treatment is provided, if necessary, to avoid potential future illness.
To date, there have been 18 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli, three of which also tested positive for amoebiasis. AHS has identified 235 symptomatic individuals connected to the outbreak and two recent hospitalizations are linked to this incident. One patient has since been discharged.
The E. coli identified in this outbreak is a bacteria (Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli or EIEC) which is not normally found in treated drinking water. It is not toxin-producing and generally goes away without treatment.
Amoebiasis is caused by a parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. Often there are no symptoms associated with the parasite but it can cause gastrointestinal illness and, more rarely, severe infection of the liver, lungs, heart and brain.
Based on the ongoing investigation, it is believed the facility’s water system is the likely source of the outbreak. Saskatoon Farms has since disabled the water system and switched to a different water source that has been tested and confirmed safe by lab testing and AHS Environmental Public Health inspections.
Public health inspectors have conducted multiple onsite inspections at the facility since illnesses have been reported. During the inspections, samples were collected from the food preparation areas and water system for laboratory testing.
On July 23, AHS issued a closure order for the food facility, which will remain closed until the conditions of the order are met and until public health inspectors and medical officers of health have deemed it safe to reopen. The rest of the venue remains open and safe for business.
Anyone with questions or concerns can contact Health Link to speak to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by dialing 811.
Alberta Health Services provides a range of healthcare services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide excellent, patient-focused healthcare that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
