Ontario meat plant linked in E. coli contamination investigation
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched an investigation into some frozen beef burgers sold by Canada Safeway Ltd. over concerns that some of the frozen product might be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
The investigation was launched after CFIA officials received notice that two people in Manitoba and Ontario became sick.
The recall includes the following frozen burgers: Gourmet Meat Shoppe Big & Juicy Burger, Gourmet Meat Shoppe Prime Rib Burger, and Butcher's Cut Pure Beef Patties sold in packages of 10, 20 and 40, with a best before date of (Aug. 14, 2013).
Officials say that the products were distributed in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.
The potential E. coli contamination has been linked back to Cardinal Meat Specialists, which operates in Brampton, Ontario. CFIA officials said on Wednesday that the investigation might expand since Cardinal Meat Specialists is one of the largest producers of frozen burger patties in Canada.
This case is thought to be unrelated to the XL Foods beef recall, which was the largest beef recall in Canadian history.