Close X
Saturday, March 1, 2025
ADVT 
National

What's The Beef? Earls Restaurants Will Serve Canadian Beef Again

The Canadian Press, 04 May, 2016 11:30 AM
  • What's The Beef? Earls Restaurants Will Serve Canadian Beef Again
VANCOUVER — The Earls restaurant chain says it will start serving Canadian beef again following a recent uproar over its decision to switch to hormone-free meat from the United States.
 
The Vancouver-based company — which has 26 of its 66 locations in Alberta — said last week that it would serve beef with the U.S.-based Certified Humane designation, raised without the use of antibiotics, steroids or added hormones.
 
Earls president Mo Jessa now says the company "made a mistake" when it decided to move away from Canadian beef.
 
The decision quickly prompted a backlash from cattle farmers and incited anger on social media, with high-profile politicians even jumping into the fray on Twitter.
 
Scores of social media users viewed the decision as unpatriotic and threatened to boycott the chain.
 
The chain says it will now try to source as much of its beef in Canada as possible, and work to help farmers build the supply that it needs.
 
"We want to make this right," Jessa said in a statement. "We want Canadian beef back on our menus so we are going to work with local ranchers to build our supply of Alberta beef that meets our criteria."
 
He said the company has "deep roots" in Alberta, after starting in Edmonton, and needs "to support Alberta, especially in tough times."
 
The company had always used Canadian beef in its hamburgers and steaks — two of its biggest selling items — but wanted to make the switch to meat that was Certified Humane, which is run by the U.S. organization Humane Farm Animal Care.
 
After three years, Earls said it couldn't find a Canadian farm that could fill its needs so it decided to go with a Kansas supplier instead.
 
Earls said animals on Certified Humane ranches are "treated with care, respect and dignity from birth to pasture."
 
There is no equivalent certification in Canada, but the Canadian Cattlemen's Association had argued that there are many humane beef producers in Alberta.

MORE National ARTICLES

18 Years Old Surrey Man Arrested And Charged In Convenience Store Robbery

18 Years Old Surrey Man Arrested And Charged In Convenience Store Robbery
Bishop FRANCIS, 18 years old from Surrey, has been charged with one count of Robbery. He remains in custody pending his next court appearance.

18 Years Old Surrey Man Arrested And Charged In Convenience Store Robbery

Wildfires Prompt Evacuation Alert In Cecil Lake Area In Northeast B.C.

Wildfires Prompt Evacuation Alert In Cecil Lake Area In Northeast B.C.
Two small wildfires, about 10 and 12 hectares in size, are burning south of Cecil Lake Road, about 30 kilometres east of Fort St. John.

Wildfires Prompt Evacuation Alert In Cecil Lake Area In Northeast B.C.

B.C.'s Independent Police Watchdog Examines Man's Death In Abbotsford

Abbotsford Police Department says officers were called to a report of a fight at a business, in the Clearbrook area of the Fraser Valley city, at about 8:30 Sunday night.

B.C.'s Independent Police Watchdog Examines Man's Death In Abbotsford

Female Realtor Sexually Assaulted By Indo-Canadian Man During Surrey Open House

Female Realtor Sexually Assaulted By Indo-Canadian Man During Surrey Open House
Mounties say the woman was able to fight off the suspect and he fled from the home in north Surrey.   Mounties say the woman was able to fight off the suspect and he fled from the home in north Surrey.

Female Realtor Sexually Assaulted By Indo-Canadian Man During Surrey Open House

Pathankot Boy Dies After Shooting Himself While Taking A Selfie

Pathankot Boy Dies After Shooting Himself While Taking A Selfie
The Pathankot boy reportedly tried to take a selfie with the gun pointing towards his head, said police.

Pathankot Boy Dies After Shooting Himself While Taking A Selfie

Too Early To Say If Alleged Assault At UBC Connected To Other Incidents: RCMP

Too Early To Say If Alleged Assault At UBC Connected To Other Incidents: RCMP
Police say two men have been arrested on the University of British Columbia campus following an alleged sexual assault.

Too Early To Say If Alleged Assault At UBC Connected To Other Incidents: RCMP