XL Foods recalls ground beef products in Canada over E. coli contamination

Canadian meat company XL Foods is recalling a number of ground beef products that were sold at major grocery stores in several provinces in Canada as they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

CFIA noted that the products were sold in Costco stores nationally under Kirkland Signature brand; Safeway stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, under Safeway brand; and Walmart stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The products that are being recalled from Safeway stores include ground beef, ground beef patties, medium ground beef chuck, MS lean beef patties cheddar cheese, MS lean ground beef meatloaf, MS lean ground beef sliders, MS meatballs, MS beef lean ground stuffed peppers, MS ground sirloin patties, and ground chuck.

The products that are being recalled from Costco stores include lean ground beef 15% fat or less; lean ground beef patties / 15% fat or less; and ground beef tube 86% lean full case / manual weight.

Products to be recalled from Walmart stores are regular ground beef, medium ground beef, and lean ground beef.

Other products that are being recalled include Beef Bearpaw Burger and Calahoo Meats branded burgers.

There have been no reported illnesses linked to the consumption of these products.

CFIA said that this voluntarily recall is a part of its ongoing food safety investigation, and it is working with the recalling firms and distributors to identify and verify all affected products.

Consumption of food contaminated with E. coli bacteria can lead to diarrhoea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure, and it can cause serious illness in very young, elderly, and those with weak immune systems.

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Image: The beef products from XL Foods were sold at major grocery stores across Canada including Safeway, Walmart, and Costco. Photo: CFIA.