Some Canadian Ground Beef May Contain E. coli O157:H7 Bacteria, Warns Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Public Health;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 08 Jul 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Canada Safeway and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have warned that certain types of fresh and frozen ground beef may be infected with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. The alert refers to the following products:

-- Fresh ground beef products that were sold at Safeway and some independent grocery stores in British Columbia and Alberta between 24 May and 5 June. They have 25 May and 6 June Best Before dates.

-- Butchers Cut frozen ground beef patties - 1.14 kg, bearing UPC 5820 21604 and a Julian code date of 143, they were sold on 24 May and after at Safeway outlets in Western Canada, and Ontario (west of Thunder Bay).

-- Sunny Dawn frozen ground beef patties, bearing Julian date 143-07, sold on 24 May or after at some independent grocery stores in Western Canada, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and in Ontario (west of Thunder Bay).

If you think you may have purchase the above mentioned ground beef but are unsure, contact your retail store. If you have purchased any of these products and have them in your freezer do not consume them, say the CFIA. Five people so far have become ill after eating these products, says the agency.

Food which has been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not smell bad or look any different from uncontaminated food. However, it can cause serious, and even life-threatening illnesses.

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection include:

-- severe abdominal pain (dreadful stomach ache)
-- Bloody diarrhoea
-- Nausea
-- Vomiting
-- Fever

Some infected patients may have seizures or strokes, while others may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. E. coli O157:H7 infection can lead to permanent kidney damage.

Safeway, Calgary, Alberta is voluntarily recalling all affected products.

-- More information on E. coli O157:H7 in the CFIA website
-- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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