Expanded Health Hazard Alert - Various GROUND BEEF Products May Contain E. coli O157:H7 Bacteria

Ottawa, September 17, 2012 - The public warning issued on September 16, 2012 has been expanded to include additional ground beef products. 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.

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

Consumers who are unsure if they have affected products are advised to check with the store(s) where they were purchased.

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.

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