Accused food tamperer to plead not guilty

By Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald
April 22, 2010 2:07 AM


A woman accused of tampering with food at a southwest Co-op store -- apparently sparking more than a dozen similar incidents in the city -- will plead not guilty, her lawyer says.

Tatyana Granada, who was in court to sign a new bail order Wednesday, was initially prohibited from visiting just the Oakridge Co-op after charges last month, but is now banned from entering any Coop store in Alberta.

Provincial court Judge William Pepler made the change in bail conditions for Granada at the request of Crown prosecutor Martha O'Connor.

Defence lawyer Mark Takada said his client, who will fight the charges of trespassing and mischief causing damage over $5,000, agreed not to go to the Co-op.

"They have to prove who did it. It could be one person or it could be more than one person. It could copycats," the lawyer said outside court.

Takada, who has criticized the quality of the store-shot video the Crown is using in its case, said he is awaiting further disclosure of evidence before making any pleas.

"Quite frankly, the quality of the surveillance video is so-so, at least the stuff that I have seen.

"It's certainly not a smoking gun like in a lot of other cases where video is conclusive," he said.

Granada, 43, was charged after the food tampering incident in January, in which pins and sewing needles were found in bakery items and produce.

She had also faced a shoplifting charge at the Oakridge Co-op from December, but it was withdrawn when she completed court-sanctioned alternative measures by making a charitable donation last month.

By completing alternative measures, a provision under the Criminal Code, Granada avoided a criminal record by admitting to the offence and either making a donation or performing community service work.

Since the mother of two was charged, a spate of similar incidents have occurred at various supermarkets throughout the city.

There was a rash of incidents in late March, including three at Sobeys, which prompted grocery stores to ramp up security and safety precautions.

Then, two other grocery stores -- the Buy-Low Foods and the Safeway on 52nd Street N.E. -- were targeted, police said.

Objects such as pins, nails and small metal springs were inserted into avocados and buns at Sobeys in Cranston, McKenzie Towne and Millrise.

Police have said that some of the cases of reported tampering may be the result of processing problems on the part of food manufacturers.

Granada's next court appearance is set for May 18.

dslade@theherald.canwest.com

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