Recalled Ground Beef Update

Canada's food watchdog, grocery chain update ground beef alert

Canada's food watchdog and Canada Safeway have released more information in the recall of certain fresh and frozen ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli.

Independent grocers may have resized, repackaged and relabelled the affected frozen ground beef patties, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Canada Safeway said Tuesday in the updated health hazard alert.

Consumers who are unsure if their product is included in the recall should contact the store.

The recall applies to the following products:

• Fresh ground beef (lean, regular, extra lean and market trim) sold at Safeway and independent grocery stores in B.C. and Alberta between May 24 and June 5, 2007. The products are marked with a best before dates from May 25 to June 6 inclusively.
• Butcher's Cut frozen ground beef patties sold in 1.13 kg packages. The products, which bear the UPC code UPC 58200 21604 and a Julian code date of 143, were sold on May 24, 2007, at Safeway and independent grocery stores in Western Canada, and in regions in Ontario west of Thunder Bay.
• Sunny Dawn frozen ground beef patties, marked with a Julian date 143-07, sold on or after May 24, 2007, at independent grocery stores in Western Canada, Yukon, Northwest Territories and in Ontario west of Thunder Bay.

Five associated illnesses have been reported, the CFIA said.

Food contaminated with the potentially life-threatening E. coli 0157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled, the federal agency said. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, and some people may suffer seizures or strokes. Consumption of food spoiled with the bacteria may cause permanent kidney damage or death.
Source: CBC.ca