ICYMI: Halifax restaurants rally to support Mi'kmaq, restaurateurs demand transparency, and more

Here are six stories you might have missed in food news this week

Following the continued escalation of Nova Scotia’s decades-long lobster feud, several Halifax-area restaurants recently rallied together to show solidarity in supporting the Mi’kmaq and their treaty right to fish.

Speaking of standing in solidarity, Quebec’s restaurant community has joined forces in an open letter to premier François Legault, sharing the industry’s many concerns regarding COVID-19 restrictions and demanding increased transparency from the government going forward.

Rounding out this week’s news stories on a lighter note, a contactless vending machine filled with a rotating selection of ready-made meals debuted in Calgary, and a team of food experts in Guelph revealed a gourmet food menu made from beer byproducts, insects, and fish feces. Well, like we've always said, we'll try anything once.

 

Halifax-area restaurants remove lobster from menus in support of Mi'kmaq

In response to the continued escalation of Nova Scotia’s decades-long lobster feud, several Halifax-area restaurants have removed lobster from their menus as a demonstration of solidarity and support to the Mi’kmaq and their treaty right to fish.

Find the full breakdown at CBC News.

Quebec restaurants rally to save industry

This week, roughly 40 Quebec restaurant owners signed an open letter to premier François Legault, sharing the industry’s many concerns and demanding increased transparency regarding the government’s plans going forward. 

“We believe the industry deserves to know the motives and data that justifies the closures so we can better our procedures, avoid future restrictions and be a part of the solution,” the letter stated. 

Head to CTV News for a full breakdown.

Fast food chains to test reusable packaging model in Toronto

Photo credit: Burger King

Fast food chains Tim Hortons and Burger King both recently signed deals with TerraCycle’s Loop program to test the use of reusable packaging next year in Toronto. 

The program encourages customers to pay a deposit and receive their order in reusable, returnable cups and food packaging. 

Get the full scoop from CBC News.

Ready-made meal vending machines launch in Calgary

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Canadian food retailer Nutrimeals recently rolled out its new ready-made meal vending services in Calgary. The automatic contactless kiosks are located at two central locations in the city, and offer a rotating selection of “convenient and wholesome” meals that consumers can order and pay for using the company’s app. 

Find out more at Forbes.

Manitoba’s largest poultry plant linked to community COVID-19 outbreak

Over the last two weeks, 27 employees at a southeastern Manitoba poultry plant have tested positive for COVID-19, and some are suggesting that the plant’s outbreak is linked to further spread within the community. 

Currently, 89 of the Blumenort plant employees are self-isolating. A spokesperson for the plant has asserted that all safety precautions have been taken, and there is no indication that COVID-19 is still spreading within the workplace. 

Visit CBC News for more.

Guelph experts create gourmet food from unusual ingredients

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Chefs of Guelph, Ontario’s Neighbourhood Group of Companies are using what they refer to as “circular ingredients” to produce gourmet food in an attempt to close the waste-to-food-to-waste loop.

Using ingredients like insects, fish feces, and beer brewing byproducts, the Group of Companies have crafted three menu items: sourdough crusted fish and chips, a trout sandwich, and gravalax trout on sourdough. 

Find out more about this fascinating initiative at CBC News.