E. coli beef recall expanded

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
News Release

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OTTAWA - The public warning issued on March 15, 2012 has been expanded to include all ground beef products from Establishment 761 that were manufactured between July 1, 2011 and February 15, 2012 and described below, because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain ground beef products, described below, from Establishment 761 because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is also warning all retailers, distributors and restaurants not to sell, serve or use certain ground beef products, described below, from Establishment 761 because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

All ground beef products are being voluntarily recalled that were manufactured between July 1, 2011 and February 15, 2012 that were manufactured at this facility.

The affected products can be identified by the Establishment number that appears on the packages, cartons or cases. The products made at this facility bear Establishment number (EST) 761.

The affected products involved in this recall may be identified by one of the following codes:

a.bearing a Best Before date from BB 2012 JA 01 up to and including to BB 2013 FE 15;

b.bearing a production code with a format of 11 JL 01 up to and including 12 FE 15;

c.bearing a 5 digit lot code where the last four digits are 1831 or greater.

We will be updating product description information as it becomes available.

These products have been distributed nationally to retail stores, restaurants and institutional establishments.

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 CFIA is working with all retailers and distributors to recall all 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.

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