Possible E. Coli Tainted Beef Warning

Food Inspection Agency Warns Against Tainted Beef With Possible E. Coli Connection

Canadian health and food safety inspectors are erring on the side of caution, choosing to warn the public about a possible connection between contaminated meat from an Alberta-based faciliy and a fatal E. coli outbreak, despite the fact that an investigation has yet to confirm a link.

"These cases had the same unique genetic pattern associated with it," Canadian Food Inspection Agency recall specialist Garfield Balsom said in reference to products from Rancher's Beef Ltd. of Balzac, Alta. "The linkage we had made with Rancher's was not associated with the illnesses, or any source of the illnesses that occured this summer," he said. "There was nothing common that could link us back to a particular source for that outbreak."

A total of 46 cases of E. coli illness scattered across the country were reported between July and September.

The CFIA has released the following expanded list of 17 locations and dates where potentially contaminated beef products, products that are likely no longer available for sale, but could still be in consumers' freezers. There have been no reported illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Alberta

Blackman's Butcher Shop, Grand Prairie: chuck-eye roll, chuck-eye steak "Pure Beef Patties" (9 lb. box, frozen), "Seasoned Lean" beef patties (9 lb. box, frozen), lean ground beef sold Aug. 3-24 inclusive

Saskatchewan

B & D Meats, Weyburn: lean ground beef and hamburger beef patties, sold July 24-31 inclusive

Jankes Meat, Weyburn: rib-eye steak and seasoned burgers (5 lb. cases), sold July 24-29 and Aug. 20-26 inclusive.

Boryski's Butcher Block, Saskatoon: rib-eye and striploin steaks, sold July 30-Aug. 4 inclusive.

Manitoba

Food Fare, Winnipeg: boneless chuck blade roast and steak, boneless cross-rib roast and steak and ground beef, sold July 23-Aug. 18 inclusive.

Frostland Meats (trading as Dutch Market Meat), Winnipeg: regular ground beef and rib-eye steaks, sold Aug. 9-12 inclusive.

Harry's Foods, Winnipeg: bulk pack boneless blade steak, boneless chuck blade roast and steak, boneless cross-rib roast and steak, regular, lean and extra-lean ground beef, and fresh stewing beef, sold July 23-Aug. 17 inclusive.

Ontario

Consumer Frosted Foods, Kenora: chuck roast, lip-on rib-eye steak and roast, and stewing beef, sold July 30-Aug. 10 inclusive

Renco Foods, Thunder Bay: blade steak, boneless blade roast, cross-rib steak and roast, regular, medium and lean ground beef, and lip-on rib-eye steak, sold July 27-Aug. 14 inclusive.

Country Good Meats, Thunder Bay: blade steak, boneless blade roast, extra lean and lean ground beef, pot roast, rib-eye roast and steak and stewing beef, sold July 27-Aug. 14 inclusive.

Cottom Cold Storage Meats, Windsor: ground beef and steak, sold June 27 -July 3 inclusive.

Dunrobin Village Meat, Dunrobin: lean and regular ground beef and sirloin steak, sold June 26-July 7 inclusive

Grey County Meats, Maxwell: top sirloin steak, sold June 26-Aug. 4 inclusive.

Moncion Grocers, Petawawa Market, Petawawa: lean, medium and regular ground beef, top sirloin steak and roast, sold June 26-July 7 inclusive.

Northern Meat Packers Ltd., Trout Creek: hamburger (ground beef) and top sirloin steak, sold June 26-30 inclusive

P.S. Shop at Home, Toronto: sirloin steak, sold June 29-July 29 inclusive.

Toronto Wholesale Meats, Toronto: "arrosto" (Italian roast), steak and stewing beef, sold June 26-30 inclusive.

Source: CityNews.ca