EXPANDED HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

LEADBETTERS COWBOY BEEF BURGERS MAY CONTAIN E. coli O157:H7 BACTERIA

Related alerts: 2010-09-08 | 2010-09-09

Product photos

OTTAWA, September 9, 2010 - The public warning issued on September 8, 2010 has been expanded to include additional size products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Leadbetters Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume Leadbetters Cowboy Beef Burgers because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The following Leadbetters products are affected by this Alert:

Product	Weight	UPC	Code
Cowboy Beef Burgers	2.27Kg (5lb) 20 X 113.5gr (4oz)	8 73587 00003 5	20169
Cowboy Beef Burgers	1.13Kg (2.49 lb) 8 X 141g (5oz)	8 73587 00078 3	20169
Cowboy Beef Burgers	2.04Kg(4.5lb) 12 X 170g (6oz)	8 73587 00030 1	20169

These products have been distributed in Ontario.

The CFIA is aware of an E. coli O157:H7 illness outbreak in Ontario and is collaborating with its partners, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC), Health Canada, and various health units in Ontario to investigate these illnesses. This investigation is ongoing.

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 diarrhea. 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, Leadbetters Foods Inc., Orillia, 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:

Leadbetters Foods Inc. at 1-705-325-9922 or info@cowboysteaks.com);

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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Media enquiries:

Leadbetters Foods Inc. 705-325-9922
Katherine Heydon 905-206-0577 ext. 243, or
Virginia Clack-Zimm 905-206-0577 ext. 237

CFIA Media Relations
613-773-6600

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