An announcement on Tuesday that Vancouver-based Earls Restaurants is moving to Certified Humane beef — meaning the chain would be moving away from Canadian beef — provoked a fast and furious backlash.
The company said it tried to use Alberta beef, but there was not enough of a certain type of the meat to meet the restaurant chain's new criteria.
"We did intensive research and testing for over two years trying to use a Certified Humane beef from Alberta, raised without antibiotics, steroids or growth hormones, of which there are some great suppliers in Canada — and we did use it in our Edmonton and Calgary locations as well as our flagship locations across Canada for well over two years," the chain said in a statement.
"However, there was (and is) simply not enough Certified Humane, antibiotic-, steroid-free beef in Alberta to meet the volume we use, and those we tried were unable to consistently meet our supply needs, not even a portion of it."
Earls will instead go with a U.S. supplier.
That didn't sit well with some in Alberta.
"Disappointed to see @earlsrestaurant move away from Alberta beef. Alberta farmers work hard to produce the best beef in the world," tweeted Wildrose Leader Brian Jean.
Disappointed to see @earlsrestaurant move away from Alberta Beef. Alberta farmers work hard to produce the best beef in the World. #ableg
— @BrianJeanWRP
Former federal Conservative cabinet minister Monte Solberg jumped in on Twitter, as well.
"Earls is caving to hysteria on humane treatment and hormones. I'll take my business elsewhere. #SupportAlberta," he tweeted.
Earls is caving to hysteria on humane treatment and hormones. I'll take my business elsewhere. #SupportAlberta https://t.co/1S3h2OJyVK
— @montesolberg
The restaurant's tweet announcing the change has dozens of replies and most aren't favourable, with many threatening a boycott of the Canadian chain.
Earls says it's open to using Canadian beef if it can find a supplier that can keep up with the volume it needs.
Earls, founded in 1982, has about 7,000 employees at 65 locations in Canada and the United States.
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