Health Hazard Alert-Update: Fifth List of Recalled Ground Beef Products

This is an update to my previous blogs:

• Health Hazard Alert-Update: Third & Fourth Lists of Ground Beef Products-Recalled

• Health Alert-Update: More Ground Beef Products Recalled

• Health Hazard Alert: Various Ground Beef Products Recalled

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, or serve the ground beef products described below because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

Concerning certain ground beef products made from beef recalled by the manufacturer – XL Foods Inc. (Est. 38 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) – the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s continued investigation produced the following results at the present time:

• The table of recalled products, which is the list of ground beef products provided in the Health Hazard Alert issued on September 16, 2012, is now updated to include another list of additional ground beef products, which is given below in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Public Advisory dated September 20, 2012

• The expanded recall also includes unlabelled and/or unbranded ground beef products:
  • available for sale from August 24 through September 16, 2012
  • and sold at retail stores not identified in the CFIA‘s product list below, which may include small retailers, local meat markets and butcher shops, etc.

• Therefore, the CFIA is advising consumers who are unsure if they have the affected ground beef product in their home to check with the store(s) where the product was purchased or throw it out

Other info regarding the voluntary recall of the affected ground beef products is as follows:

• Recall Classification: Class 1
  • is a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death

• There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products

• This voluntary recall is part of an ongoing food safety investigation
  • The manufacturer, XL Foods Inc., and various retailers, processors and distributors are voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace
  • The CFIA is working with the recalling firms and distributors to identify and verify all affected products
  • If additional affected products are confirmed, this table will be updated on the CFIA website

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled:

• Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria my cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses

• Please click here to read the E. coli O157:H7 Food Safety Facts.

Contact Info:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)  at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

PUBLIC ADVISORY

Le texte français suit le texte anglais

EXPANDED HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

Various Labelled and Unlabelled GROUND BEEF Products May Contain E. coli O157:H7 Bacteria

OTTAWA, September 20, 2012 – The public warning issued on September 19, 2012 has been expanded to include additional ground beef products because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Previously identified products included in this recall can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at www.inspection.gc.ca/recalls.

The CFIA is warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, or serve the ground beef products described below because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

This recall also includes unlabelled and/or unbranded ground beef products available for sale from August 24 through September 16, 2012 and sold at retail stores not identified in the CFIA‘s product list below, which may include small retailers, local meat markets and butcher shops, etc. Therefore, the CFIA is advising consumers who are unsure if they have the affected ground beef product in their home to check with the store(s) where the product was purchased or throw it out.

The following products, made from beef voluntarily recalled by XL Foods (Est. 38), are affected by this alert:

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

This voluntary recall is part of an ongoing food safety investigation. The CFIA is working with the recalling firms and distributors to identify and verify all affected products.  If additional affected products are confirmed, this table will be updated on the CFIA website. To stay informed of product updates throughout the investigation, consumers are also encouraged to subscribe to CFIA food recalls and allergy alerts at www.foodsafety.gc.ca.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled.  Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria my cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses.  Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea.  Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis.  Others may live with permanent kidney damage.  In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The manufacturer, XL Foods Inc., Edmonton, Alberta and various retailers, processors and distributors are voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on E. coli O157:H7, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml

For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA‘s Food Recall Report at: http://active.inspection.gc.ca/eng/corp/recarapp_dbe.asp.

To find out more about receiving recalls by e-mail, and other food safety facts, visit: www.foodsafety.gc.ca. Food and consumer product recalls are also available at http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca.

Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments

MISE EN GARDE PUBLIQUE