Date of Conferral

11-5-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Harrison Ndetan

Abstract

Critical food safety violations in food facilities are severe infractions that may affect the quality and safety of foods as well as the health and wellbeing of consumers in Canada. In 2023, Alberta Health Services heightened scrutiny on these violations in Calgary. However, no investigation has been undertaken to document its potential effects on types and trend (from the previous year) of food safety violations in food facilities across Calgary regions. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the associations between Calgary regions of Canada, Year (2022 versus 2023), and the number of types of critical food safety violations (temperature control deviations, poor sanitation, pest control issues, poor personal hygiene, and unsuitable food conditions). Year and region were the predictor variables and critical food safety violations were the outcome variable. The study was based on the Epidemiology Triangle Theory, which explains that infections are caused by the interactions of the environment, the agent, and the host. Secondary data from inspection reports by Calgary zone of Alberta Health Services between 2022 and 2023 (N = 877) were used. Based on chi-square test of independence, there was a statistically significant association between violation type and year [χ²(4, N = 877) = 11.94, p = .018] as well as between violation type and region [χ²(12, N = 877) = 35.46, p < .001]. In 2023, there were reduced number of poor sanitation and temperature control deviations compared to 2022, suggesting that recent efforts may have some benefits on food safety in Calgary. Findings, though preliminary, highlight the need for more public health interventions to reduce food safety violations in this region and identify the areas most impacted on which such interventions should be targeted.

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