Tainted Water Sickens Dozens After Visiting Popular Okotoks Farm

In the past week, a foodborne illness outbreak has struck customers of the popular Saskatoon Farm in Okotoks, Alberta. According to health officials, 88 people reported gastrointestinal symptoms like intense vomiting, diarrhea, and fever after visiting the farm on July 15 and 16.

The illnesses have prompted Alberta Health Services to temporarily close all food services at Saskatoon Farm while they investigate the cause. The farm's management believes heavy rainfall last week led to groundwater contamination in their water system, which was the likely source of the outbreak.

Best friends Kayla Scott and Alanna Jensen were among those affected, with both experiencing severe symptoms that have persisted for over a week. The illnesses have also impacted their young children and caused significant distress, including a drop in breastmilk supply for one mother.

Saskatoon Farm has apologized to those affected and says they have taken steps to address the issue, including switching to a treated well, purging contaminated lines, and disposing of potentially affected food items. The farm's other services, such as the gift shop and berry picking, remain open as the investigation continues.

Health experts warn that such outbreaks can be especially dangerous for vulnerable populations like young children and the elderly, who are at higher risk of dehydration. They advise that any signs of bloody diarrhea should be reported promptly.