CONSUMER ADVISORY

SUSPECTED TAMPERING IN STELLA ARTOIS BEER

OTTAWA, July 12, 2007 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Labatt Breweries of Canada are advising the public that some Stella Artois beer bottles may have been tampered with.

The CFIA was advised of six bottles suspected of being tampered with in which concentrated alcohol was introduced into 330 ml Stella Artois beer bottles bearing the best before end of 11.2005 or 12.2005 and production codes of L32343T and L35243G. These codes have expired and should no longer be in the marketplace. These suspected tampering incidents occurred with beer sold at restaurants and bars in Toronto, Ontario and Kamloops, British Columbia. There are no reported incidents involving products purchased at beer or liquor stores. Stella Artois cans and draft beer are not affected.

There have been some reported reactions of vomiting associated with the consumption of this product.

Consumers are advised to check Stella Artois beer bottles for these best before end and production codes. Bottled beer from these codes, or bottles showing two neck labels glued on top of another, should not be consumed. Restaurants and bars are advised to check Stella Artois beer bottles for the affected best before end and production codes before serving.

The CFIA and Labatt Breweries of Canada are collaborating with the police authorities in their investigation.

Consumers with information regarding this suspected tampering should contact their local police department.

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

Labatt Breweries of Canada Consumer Hotline at 1-800-268-BEER (2337);

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 receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

- 30 -

Media enquiries: 

Labatt Breweries
Alexis Redmond
Edelman Canada
Office: 416-979-1120 x310
Cell: 416-300-8386
E-mail: alexis.redmond@edelman.com