Earls faces backlash after dropping Alberta beef for Certified Humane U.S. meat
VANCOUVER — A decision by Earls restaurants to ditch Alberta beef in favour of U.S. meat that is free of added hormones has prompted a backlash from cattle ranchers and threats to boycott the Canadian chain.
The company announced this week that it would become the “first restaurant chain in North America” to serve only beef with the U.S.-based Certified Humane designation, raised without the use of antibiotics, steroids or added hormones.
Earls spokeswoman Cate Simpson said as the company’s commitment to “conscious sourcing” deepened, it spent nearly three years searching for a Certified Humane producer in Canada that could meet its large supply needs.
“They just weren’t able to increase the level of production they have, but hopefully one day they will and then we will happily switch back to Alberta or Canadian beef,” she said in an interview.