Best Value beef burgers added to recall list

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
News Release

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OTTAWA - The public warning issued on March 13, 2012 has been expanded to include additional products and distribution information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and New Food Classics are warning the public not to consume certain Best Value beef burger products, described below, because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The following Best Value brand products are affected by this alert:

10 Beef Burgers
1 kg
0 71212 88103 8
72991 EST 761, 82991 EST 761

20 Beef Burgers
2 kg
0 71212 88104 5
53011 EST 761, 63011 EST 761, 73011 EST 761, 83011 EST 761

These products have been distributed to Giant Tiger and Northern Canada retail stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of these products.

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, New Food Classics, 1122 International Blvd., Suite 601, Burlington, Ontario is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.

The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

New Food Classics at 1-855-344-1825;

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.

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