HEALTH HAZARD ALERT
OTTAWA, July 6, 2007 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada
Safeway are warning the public not to consume the fresh and frozen ground beef
products listed below because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7
bacteria.
The following products are affected by this alert:
Fresh ground beef (lean, regular, extra lean and market trim)
The fresh ground beef products were sold at Safeway and some independent
grocery stores in British Columbia and Alberta between May 24 and June 5, 2007
and bear Best Before dates from May 25 to June 6 inclusively.
Consumers who have purchased fresh ground beef products from independent
stores during the time periods described above, and are unsure that it is
affected product, should contact the retail store to determine if the product
purchased is affected.
Butcher’s Cut frozen ground beef patties 1.13 kg
The affected patties, bearing UPC 58200 21604 and a Julian code date of
143, were sold on and after May 24, 2007, at Safeway stores in Western Canada
and in Ontario, west of Thunder Bay.
Sunny Dawn frozen ground beef patties
The affected patties, bearing Julian date 143-07, were sold on or after May
24, 2007 at some independent grocery stores in Western Canada, Yukon, Northwest
Territories, and in Ontario west of Thunder Bay.
Consumers who have purchased the products described above, and have them in
their freezers, are advised not to consume these products.
There have been five reported illnesses associated with the consumption of
these products.
Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell
spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause serious
and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal
pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may
need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent
kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
Canada Safeway, Calgary, Alberta is voluntarily recalling the affected
products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the
effectiveness of the recall.
For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following
numbers:
Canada Safeway at 1-800-SAFEWAY;
The CFIA at
1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735
(8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).
For information on E.
coli O157:H7, visit the Food Facts web page at
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml
For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety
facts, visit our web site at
www.inspection.gc.ca.
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Media enquiries:
David Ryzebol
Canada Safeway, Vice President Public Relations and Government Affairs
(403) 730-3511
Davendra Sharma (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-755-2890
Julie Lacoursière
(French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4044
Fact Sheet: E.
coli O157:H7 Food Safety Facts
Audio Clips for Food Recalls and Allergy
Alerts
