TORONTO A possible E. coli outbreak in the U.S. has crossed the border into Canada, sparking a recall of President's Choice beef products that were sold at major supermarkets including Fortinos, Dominion, Loblaws and Real Canadian Superstore.
On Tuesday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a warning asking the public not to consume dozens of beef products imported from JBS Swift Beef Company, a meat processing plant in Greeley, Colorado.
The cuts of meat, which include steaks, roasts and ground beef, were distributed throughout Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
The fresh, not frozen, products were sold in packages of varying weights, on trays with plastic wrap.
Some were sold over the counter of the deli sections of grocery stores.
Best before dates range from April 29 to June 16, 2009.
In Ontario, the items were sold at Cash & Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Dominion, Extra Foods, Fortinos, Freshmart, Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Loblaw Superstore, Valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs and Westfair.
Additionally, four to five-pound packs of Beef Knuckle Roast sold between April 30 to June 10 at Sue's Market in Richmond Hill, are also affected by the recall.
On Sunday, JBS Swift Beef Company, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced that it was recalling about 380,000 pounds (172,400 kilograms) amidst fears the products were contaminated with the E. coli bacteria.
Although the CFIA claims there have been no reported illnesses in Canada, the USDA reports it is looking into claims of illnesses in the U.S.
In a written statement released earlier this week, JBS spokesperson Chandler Keys pointed out that contamination of their products could have occurred during processing done by their customers.
"It is important for consumers to note that the recalled product from the date in question was sold by JBS as whole muscle cuts, not as ground beef," Keys said.
"The ground beef that might have been associated with illness was produced by other companies who often do not use the antimicrobial intervention steps we employ in our facility to reduce the risk of the beef products."
The statement goes on to warn consumers about the importance of cooking meat in high temperatures and directs readers to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CFIA, food contaminated with E. coli may not look or smell spoiled.
Consumption of contaminated food may cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses.
Symptoms may include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage.
Severe cases could result in death.
For more information, please contact the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday.
And this . . .
12 hospitalized in connection with E. coli in beef
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
WASHINGTON (AP) — At least 12 people, two of them suffering kidney failure, have been hospitalized in connection with a possible E. coli outbreak in beef suspected of having sickened people in nine states, federal health officials said Wednesday.
The victims may have become ill after eating beef produced by JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The number of people reported ill so far is 23.
The company recalled about 380,000 pounds of beef on Sunday after some illnesses were reported and a government investigation showed a possible connection to the company's product. That recall expanded a June 24 recall of just over 41,000 pounds.
The CDC said health officials in several states investigating the strain of E. coli found that most ill persons had consumed ground beef, and many reported that it was undercooked. Ground beef with the strain of E. coli was obtained from the home of one person infected.
"At least some of the illnesses appear to be associated with products subject to these recalls," the CDC said in a statement on its Web site.
The first reported illness began on April 2, according to the CDC, and the last on June 13. Wisconsin and Michigan appear to be the hardest hit by the outbreak so far, with six ill people in each state identified by the CDC.
Other cases were reported in California, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York.
The CDC did not specify the states in which people were hospitalized. The agency said that two of those who fell ill suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure.
Kidney failure is found in the most severe cases of E.coli. In less serious cases, the potentially deadly bacterium can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.
The outbreak comes on the heels of a recall of Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products and just before the 4th of July holiday, when many Americans are preparing to grill hamburgers outdoors.
Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a longtime critic of the food safety system, said this week she is concerned it took too long for JBS Swift to recall the meat. The beef was produced April 21, according to the company and the Agriculture Department.
"It is deeply troubling that it has been over two months since this meat was produced and only now are we learning that thousands of Americans have potentially been exposed to E. coli-tainted beef," said DeLauro, who heads the House subcommittee in charge of Agriculture Department spending. "I urge the USDA to aggressively and expeditiously investigate."
The department's Food Safety and Inspection Service initially took a sample of the beef on May 21 that tested positive for the strain, according to the agency. Because that beef did not enter the food supply, officials did not urge a recall. A follow-up investigation, including information from the illnesses reported, prompted FSIS to go to the company and request the recall, an agency spokesman said.
"Until recently, there was not adequate evidence suggesting a link between this source material and illnesses," said FSIS spokesman Brian Mabry.
In a statement, JBS Swift said it sold the meat as whole muscle cuts and may have been ground by retailers who purchased it. Raw ground beef is considered the highest risk to consumers.
As part of the recall, The Kroger Co. said earlier this week that it is recalling packages of meat with "sell by" dates of April 27 to June 1 in the Cincinnati-Dayton region that includes northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana; and in western Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Illinois and eastern Missouri. The company said the suspect beef was sold under its store brands in more than a dozen states.
Kroger-owned Food 4 Less stores in the Chicago area, Fry's stores in Arizona and Smith's stores in Arizona, Utah, and other western states were also included in the recall.
Other grocery retailers are also affected, such as Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets and Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop. Hannaford has urged customers in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont to check freezers for the recalled beef.