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The Saskatchewan Health Authority is reviewing policies and procedures after a number of long-term care residents were knowingly served a beef roast that had been seasoned in toxic hand cleaner.

The incident happened last month at the Carrot River Health Centre where 35 residents live.

According to the Sask Health Authority, a powdered hand cleaner was decanted by a staff member into a spice container and no change was made to the container’s label. The container was then placed by the kitchen sink.

Officials said a different staff member unknowingly used it on a roast.

When staff noticed the error, they removed the outer portion of the roast and served it to residents for that meal.

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“Once it was discovered that the food had been tainted, none of the roast should have been served to the residents or staff members,” the Sask Health Authority said in a written statement.

Family members of residents who consumed the roast were notified by mail on May 22. The incident occurred on May 6.

The letter calls the error a “no harm incident” and reassures families the manufacturer of the product states the hand cleaner “has low toxicity.”

Carrot River is approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

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