Walmart fined for selling contaminated food after Fort McMurray fire

Walmart Canada has been ordered to pay a $20,000 fine for selling contaminated food after a devastating wildfire in northern Alberta two years ago.

Some of the charges against Walmart included failing to dispose of food items--including candy, potato chips, beans and condiments--after the Fort McMurray fire in May 2016.

An agreed statement of facts presented in Fort McMurray provincial court shows there were originally 174 charges, but that number was reduced to 10.

READ: Walmart charged with selling contaminated food in Fort McMurray

Walmart Canada and loss prevention manager Darren Kenyon were each fined $2,000 per offence.

In a statement, Walmart Canada spokesman Rob Nichol said the company didn't adequately carry out an order from Alberta Health Services.

READ: Walmart reaches pre-trial agreement on Fort McMurray wildfire case

The health authority said food exposed to wildfires could be damaged by unsafe temperatures, smoke, ash, soot, fire retardants, water and loss of power.

Nichol said Walmart had learned from the experience and would be better able to respond in future crises.

"Food safety and the safety of our customers is our top priority," said the statement released Monday. "As part of our commitment, Walmart has recently made a donation to the Red Cross to support ongoing disaster preparedness, relief and recovery operations."

Nichol said the $130,000 donation to the Fort McMurray Red Cross was made Sept. 20.

Crown prosecutor Ivan Bernardo said he believed the fines would deter other operators from committing a similar offence.

The huge fire forced more than 80,000 people to flee the city. Residents were not allowed to return to the damaged community until June.