Saskatoon Farm restaurant voluntarily closed amid AHS investigation

The Saskatoon Farm near Okotoks is temporarily closed after multiple diners contracted a gastrointestinal illness last week.

Alberta Health Services says it is looking into what caused several people to fall ill with a gastrointestinal illness at Saskatoon Farm, south of Calgary, last week.

AHS says a public health inspector conducted an inspection at the venue near Okotoks, east of Highway 2, on July 19 after several people fell ill on July 15 and 16.

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In a statement, AHS said samples of water were taken and additional testing will be done, including an “on-site environmental inspection.”

That includes contacting affected individuals to determine what they ate and when they first became sick.

The facility’s drinking water system will also be analyzed, AHS said.

Restaurant closed

On Facebook, staff at the Saskatoon Farm said several people developed “flu-like symptoms” after eating at the establishment.

The business said its restaurant would be closed on Wednesday.

“While this closure is not required by Alberta Health Services (AHS), we have chosen to take the day to coordinate and regroup as a team to ensure we continue to offer a safe dining experience,” staff said in the post.

In earlier posts, the farm said “a potential issue” was found in the water system on July 17 and steps were immediately taken to switch to another water supply.

“That has since been deemed ‘satisfactory’ by Alberta Health Services (AHS),” the farm wrote in the post.

“As an added precaution, from Thursday, July 17 onward, we have only been serving canned and bottled beverages (including water) and using bagged ice from a local retailer.”

The farm said the issue “has been fully addressed and resolved.”

Staff said anyone who dined at the Saskatoon Farm on July 15 and 16 and have experienced symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness is asked to email them at [e-mail].

The Saskatoon Farm says it is taking the matter very seriously and is working closely with AHS during their inspection.

‘Violent diarrhea’

Colleen Eide ate at the restaurant with a group last Tuesday and they all got sick.

“On Thursday morning, we had all woken up really sick, between 3 and 5 a.m. Violent diarrhea, vomiting, fever, cramps. It’s just been awful.”

“This is day seven and I’m still not feeling great.”

The farm tells CTV News groundwater got into its cisterns.

That can often lead to contamination, according to a University of Calgary Biological Sciences Professor.

“It’s been rainy, and rainwater can wash into cisterns and collect things like agricultural runoff,” Joe Harrison said, “items that might be in dirt and soil that normally wouldn’t be in there. It can be how organisms that are dangerous or that can make you sick can get into a water supply that’s normally quite safe.”

The farm promises steps have been taken to alleviate the issue, including switching to its well water, which is treated.