July 10, 2007

Canada issues E. coli alert

Canadian authorities warned that ground beef and ground-beef patties sold at Canada Safeway supermarkets and independent grocery stores may contain E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

Already there have been five reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products, according to a news release.

Canada Safeway is voluntarily recalling the affected products, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Among the products feared to have been contaminated are fresh ground beef (lean, regular, extra-lean), sold at Safeway and some independent grocery stores in British Columbia and Alberta between 24 May and 5 June; Butcher's Cut frozen ground beef patties 1.13 kg bearing UPC 58200 21604 and a Julian code date of 143 that were sold on and after 24 May, at Safeway stores in Western Canada and in Ontario, west of Thunder Bay; and Sunny Dawn frozen ground-beef patties bearing Julian date 143-07, which were sold on or after 24 May at some independent grocery stores in Western Canada, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and in Ontario west of Thunder Bay.