The largest meat recall in Canadian history has been expanded to include more than 300 additional products from XL Foods, the Edmonton-based company whose packing house in Brooks is temporarily shut down because of contamination with E. coli bacteria.
Four of the nine E.coli cases in Alberta have been linked to XL Foods. AHS confirms those four cases involve beef steaks purchased at an Edmonton Costco. The other five cases are still being investigated.
The recalled products are all associated with the same manufacturing dates — Aug. 24, Aug. 27-29 and Sept. 5 — as in a previous recall. Over the weekend, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a notice essentially announcing all products manufactured at the plant on those dates should either be returned or thrown out.
The new alert lists some food items with a best-before date of Oct. 27, and many for mid- and late October. New products include preserved pork and beef sausages, eye of round steaks, thick-cut T-bones, teriyaki top loins, beef flank pinwheels and cutlets.
Retailers affected by the new recall are Giant Tiger, Northern Stores, Smith’s Quality Meats, Save-On Foods, Safeway and Longos, a chain in Ontario.
Four cases of E. coli poisoning have been linked to steaks that were sold by a Costco in northeast Edmonton, and other cases are being investigated. Until the weekend, the CFIA said no illnesses could be traced to any recalled products, but the agency is now confirming those illnesses on its website.
The first recall was issued by XL Foods on Sept. 16, which has now been followed by nine additional recalls.
The company, which is owned by Nilsson Bros. of Edmonton, has also been delisted by CFIA, meaning it is not allowed to export products to the United States.
The U.S. Food Safety Inspection Agency has issued recalls as well, affecting major grocery chains in 30 states.
For a list of recalled products - click here
The CFIA website - click here
With files from Global Edmonton
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