If in doubt, throw it out; Food inspection agency again expands beef recall

OTTAWA - The recall of ground beef from Edmonton-based producer XL Foods is being expanded yet again.

The recall due to possible E. coli contamination was first announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency a week ago and since then has been expanded six times.

It affects ground beef sold by Sobeys, Foodland, IGA, and Douglas Meats stores in the Prairie provinces, Ontario, the Maritimes and some Big Way and Super A stores.

And now it also includes unlabelled ground beef products sold between Aug. 24 through Sept. 16, at stores which may include small retailers, local meat markets and butcher shops.

The CFIA is advising consumers who are unsure if they have the affected product to check with the stores where they purchased the beef, or simply throw it out.

The agency says there have been no reported illnesses linked to the beef.


The following products, made from beef voluntarily recalled by XL Foods (Est. 38), are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Size UPC Codes / Dates Distribution

Foodland Medium Ground Beef Various Starts with 211705 Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.22 NB, NL, NS, PE

Foodland Medium Ground Beef VP Various Starts with 211660 Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.22 NB, NL, NS, PE

Foodland All store-made Ground Beef products Various Various Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.22 NB, NL, NS, PE

Sobeys / Foodland Frz Beef Patties Various Starts with 231069
Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.22 NB, NL, NS, PE

Sobeys / Foodland Store Made Meat Loaf Various Starts with 275366 Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.22 NB, NL, NS, PE

Sobeys / Foodland All value added store made or packaged products containing ground beef (Frz Patties, Meat Loaf, meat Balls etc.) Various Various
Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.22

NB, NL, NS, PE

Sobeys Medium Ground Beef Various Starts with 211705 Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.21 NB, NL, NS, PE

Sobeys Medium Ground Beef VP Various Starts with 211660 Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.21 NB, NL, NS, PE

Sobeys All store-made Ground Beef products Various Various Packaged On dates between 2012.SE.16 to 2012.SE.21 NB, NL, NS, PE

None Medium Ground Beef 1.36 kg
3 lb 0 27182 04367 0 EST 128 BB/MA Sep/19/12 AB, BC, MB, SK

(Walmart)

The public warning issued on September 25, 2012 has been expanded to include additional ground beef products and codes / dates because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Previously identified products affected by this recall can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at www.inspection.gc.ca/recalls.

The CFIA is warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, or serve the ground beef products described below because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

This recall also includes unlabelled and/or unbranded ground beef products available for sale from August 24 through September 25, 2012 and sold at retail stores not identified in the CFIA's product list below, which may include small retailers, local meat markets and butcher shops, etc. Therefore, the CFIA is advising consumers who are unsure if they have the affected ground beef product in their home to check with the store(s) where the product was purchased or throw it out.

The following products, made from beef voluntarily recalled by XL Foods (Est. 38), are affected by this alert:

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Take a look at the full list of recalled items here.