Where’s the beef? Earls restaurants says it’s back in Canada after ‘mistake’
VANCOUVER — The Earls restaurant chain says it will start serving Canadian beef again following a recent uproar over its decision to switch to meat without added hormones from the United States.
The Vancouver-based company, which has 26 of its 66 locations in Alberta, said last week that it would serve only beef with the U.S.-based Certified Humane designation, raised without the use of antibiotics, steroids or added hormones.
Earls president Mo Jessa said Wednesday the company “made a mistake” when it moved away from local beef. But to meet its supply needs while keeping its ethical standards, the chain will have to serve both Canadian and U.S. meat, he said.
“This is not going to be easy. There’s a supply issue for the criteria that we need. We’re going to have to work very hard to find more local ranchers,” he said in an interview. “We’re prepared to go back and address it, because it’s important to Canadians and our consumers. It’s important to Albertans and it’s important to us.”