According to Calgary news, a commercial kitchen company pleaded guilty Thursday to four bylaw offenses for failing to have a catering license and for three health violations, after a massive E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares led to hundreds of children falling ill. Fueling Minds Inc. was charged after the eight-week outbreak that was declared in September 2023.

There were at least 448 infections, and 39 children and one adult were hospitalized because of severe illness.

Fueling Minds provided breakfast, lunch and snacks to its own daycares and several separate daycares.

The day after the outbreak was declared, the company was flagged for three health violations, including a lack of proper sanitization methods, a pest infestation that included cockroaches and food being transported without temperature control.

The pleas came at what had been scheduled as the first day of trial, and a joint submission from lawyers recommended a fine of $10,000.