E. coli ground beef recall affects Wal-Mart stores across Western Canada
Consumers across Western Canada are being told to check their freezers and refrigerators for a specific brand of ground beef because of E. coli concerns.
Cargill Meat Solutions said its Your Fresh Market brand ground beef products may have been contaminated with the bacteria.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency cautioned the meat had been sold at Wal-Mart stores in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and B.C.
If you have purchased Your Fresh Market brand ground beef with best-before dates of Nov. 28-29, you should not eat it. CFIA suggests throwing it out or returning it to the store where you purchased it.
The specific Your Fresh Market products involved are:
- Extra Lean Ground Beef Sirloin, 475 g
Best Before 2014.NO.28
UPC 6 05388 18363 7
- Extra Lean Ground Beef, 475 g
Best Before 2014.NO.28
UPC 6 05388 18369 9
- Medium Ground Beef, 475 g
Best Before 2014.NO.28
UPC 6 05388 18365 1
- Lean Ground Beef, 475 g
Best Before 2014.NO.28 and 2014.NO.29
UPC 6 05388 18376 7
- Extra Lean Ground Beef, 900 g
Best Before 2014.NO.28
UPC 6 05388 18372 9
- Lean Ground Beef, 900 g
Best Before 2014.NO.28
UPC 6 05388 18378 1
- Lean Ground Beef, 1.6 kg
Best Before 2014.NO.28 and 2014.NO.29
UPC 6 05388 18379 8
CFIA officials said the recall had been triggered by test results from Nov. 28, but there have been no reports of illness so far.
"The CFIA was notified that a retail sample of lean ground beef that was tested as part of routine retail sampling conducted by the Public Health Agency of Canada was presumptive positive," said a spokesperson in an email.
"The sample was from a Walmart store in British Columbia. CFIA immediately initiated a food safety investigation at the processing plant."
The products are being removed from store shelves and the agency said it is following up with more investigation, which could lead to the recall of other products.
E. coli symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea.
In severe cases, some people may have seizures or strokes, need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis or live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases, people may die.
