Health Hazard Alert: Certain frozen beef brands

Certain THE GOURMET MEAT SHOPPE and THE BUTCHER'S CUT brands of Frozen Beef Burgers may contain E. coli O157:H7 bacteria

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada Safeway Limited are warning the public not to consume The Gourmet Meat Shoppe and The Butcher's Cut brands of Frozen Beef Burgers described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.


The following products are affected by this Alert:

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(www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2013/20130219e.shtml)

These products have been distributed in Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Northwest Territories. Canada Safeway Limited, Calgary, Alberta, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

This recall is the result of E. coli O157:H7 product testing by the CFIA related to an ongoing outbreak investigation. The CFIA is currently conducting a food safety investigation at the producing facility to determine if any additional products may be affected.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. 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.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

• Canada Safeway Limited at (403) 730-3511;
• 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).