Questions and Answers - Consumers

What is E. coli O157:H7?

E. coli O157:H7 is a bacteria that when consumed, may cause serious and potentially life-threatening illness. Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled.

What should consumers do about this recall?

Consumers are encouraged to check their fridge and/or freezer to see if they have the product in their home. To find out what products have been recalled, consumers should refer to the recalled products chart on the CFIA website.

I cooked ground beef that is part of this recall, is it safe to eat?

If you have already prepared and stored this meat (for example made chilli or spaghetti sauce), do not consume it. If you are unsure whether a product is part of the recall, the safest course of action is to throw it away: When in doubt, throw it out!

Is there an increase in E. coli 0157:H7 illness in Canada?

Over the past five years, the number of E. coli O157:H7 cases has trended downward. The number of cases of E. coli O157:H7 in 2011 was half that reported in 2006. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the data reported so far in 2012 continues to show a downward trend.

Federal, provincial and territorial public health authorities annually track a number of human illnesses, including those related to foodborne pathogens, such as E. coli O157:H7. The number of illnesses can fluctuate from year to year, though some trends may be noted.

E. coli can come from a variety of sources including, meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, water and poor sanitation. E. coli illnesses are not uncommon in Canada, and no unusual increases in the number of illnesses have been detected to date.

Public health authorities continue to investigate other potential cases. Information about illnesses related to the XL Foods Inc. recall are available on the PHAC's website.