Two stores in Calgary are being reprimanded by Alberta Health Services (AHS) for storing and selling uninspected meat.
Gimsap African Asian Market at 1829 54 Street SE was issued a closure order on Thursday following an inspection that found a blackened cow head, sheep heads, cow hooves, and cow intestines.
AHS also found inspected eggs on the shelf for sale in the store.
Other issues identified by the inspector include a lack of overall cleanliness and sanitation schedule, dim lighting in the walk-in freezer, broken sinks and cupboards, and exposed drywall.
The owners were ordered to fix all of these issues, including discarding all uninspected meat and providing evidence as to the source of their food, before they will be allowed to reopen.
Another store, with the same owners, was also cited for health concerns by AHS last week.
Inspectors issued a work order for Gimsap Market NW AT 2110 11 Royal Vista Drive on Thursday.
Issues included the discovery of an uninspected blackened meat head packaged in plastic without a label, and large bags of unlabeled beef tripe and chicken, as well as small bags of beef neck bone and burnt cow skin, all in the walk-in freezer.
AHS says the owners weren’t able to provide any invoices for the meat they were selling for retail.
In contrast to the southeast location, the northwest store was allowed to remain open while it resolved the issues, according to AHS.
It was also ordered to dispose of all uninspected meat, and provide invoices or receipts for all meat products from the past three months to AHS.
Gimsap’s website indicates the southeast store remains temporarily closed.
CityNews has reached out the business for comment.
Uninspected meat has made headlines several times this year; several restaurants and stores were ordered to close for storing and selling it.
Four Calgarians were also charged for their involvement in illegal slaughtering.