CFIA expands beef recall for seventh time

24-Sep-2012 - Last updated on 26-Sep-2012 at 09:14 GMT

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has expanded the recall of beef products potentially infected with E.coli for the seventh time to include more than 250 products.

The CFIA announced the expanded recall of beef products produced by XL Foods due to possible E.coli O157:H7 contamination and warned that further recalls are possible. Contamination of the raw boneless beef trim products was first announced by the CFIA last week and relates to products from XL Foods that were also distributed to the US.

To date, over 250 products have been affected by this recall, said the CFIA.

“This voluntary recall is part of an ongoing food safety investigation. The CFIA is working with the recalling firms and distributors to identify and verify all affected products,” said a CFIA statement.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. FSIS announcement US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a public health alert for the products imported from Canada that may be contaminated last week.

Products subject to the Canadian recall were distributed to California, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

“FSIS is working expeditiously to perform effectiveness checks to confirm that all trim received at FSIS-inspected establishments from Canadian Establishment 38, either received a full lethality treatment or that no raw trim was further distributed and manufactured into other not-ready-to-eat product,” said the FSIS.

“In addition, for products that may have been further distributed and manufactured into other not-ready-to-eat product, FSIS is working to confirm that actions are being taken to remove the product from commerce.”

The recall includes unlabelled and/or unbranded ground beef products available for sale from 24 August through 16 September.

In a statement on their website, XL Foods said: “XL Foods Inc. is committed to producing high quality beef products and the safety of our consumers is our number one priority. We took the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling certain production periods of beef products from our wholesale and retail customers that may have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

“We are working closely with the CFIA to complete the recall and Health Authorities to address any health concerns that may arise.”