Tag: XL Foods

Tenderized Beef Sickens 4 In Canada

Four Edmontonians became ill with E. coli O157:H7 after consuming Kirkland brand Strip Loin Grilling Steaks purchased from Costco Wholesale store #156 in Edmonton, Alberta. The beef originated from XL Foods processing plant in Brooks, Alberta.

CBC News reports that Alberta Health Services confirmed the connection after testing a steak provided by one of the outbreak victims. Officials are suggesting that the pathogen may have been introduced into the meat during a tenderizing process that is used by Costco stores in Alberta.

The steaks implicated in the four illnesses were identified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as Strip Loin Grilling Steak prepared and sold in variable weight packages from Costco Wholesale store #156, located at 13650, 50th street, Edmonton, Alberta, bearing Packed On dates 12/SE/04, 12/SE/05, 12/SE/06 or 12/SE/07. At the moment, only steaks from this one Costco store are affected.

No direct link has been established between the illnesses and the XL Foods plant that supplied the beef.

XL Food’s Brooks processing facility is the source of meat that has been under a steadily expanding series of recall notices across Canada, and a series of Public Health Alerts in the USA. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service detected E. coli O157:H7 in beef trimmings from XL Foods that were shipped from Canada to the USA.

There is no indication, either in the CBC report or from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, as to whether the outbreak strain recovered from the steak in Edmonton is the same as the strain of E. coli O157:H7 found in XL’s beef trimmings.

For a consolidated list of beef products affected by the XL Foods recall, and information on retail distribution in Canada and the USA, please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

USDA Issues Public Health Alert – What Took So Long?

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a Public Health Alert for raw boneless beef trim products imported from Canada that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

According to the FSIS News Release,

“FSIS testing of raw boneless beef trim product from Canadian Establishment 38, XL Foods, Inc., confirmed positive for E. coli O157:H7 on September 3, 2012. FSIS alerted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of the positive results. After follow-up testing by FSIS and CFIA, the CFIA announced a recall by XL Foods, Inc. of a variety of ground beef products on September 16, 2012. Subsequently, the CFIA has expanded the scope of the recall to include additional products.”

The products were distributed to US establishments in California, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Some of the recalled beef trim may have been further processed into products such as ground beef, ground beef patties, beef jerky and pastrami. FSIS is working with US customers of XL Foods to determine the final destination of all the affected meat. The agency promises to issue a retail distribution list – but not a list of food service or institutional consignees – as soon as the information is available.

eFoodAlert first broke the news of the US connection on September 17th, after US Foods posted the first of two recall notices for the benefit of its food service customers. By then, the Kroger Company already had notified its customers of a recall of KRO Ground Beef 73% (3-lb pkgs), due to contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled meat was sold in Kroger stores in Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, parts of Indiana, Illinois and eastern Missouri. Jay C, Food4Less and FoodsCo stores also were named in the Kroger recall.

I have to ask – Why did FSIS take so long to issue this Public Health Alert? The information contained in today’s News Release was already known to the US industry as early as September 16th. What purpose did it serve to hold off alerting the general public to this problem?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been unusually forthcoming with information on retail distribution of the recalled beef in Canada. A current consolidated list can be found at the Canada/USA Ground Beef Recall tab. I’ll be updating the recall information at that location to include both Canadian and US recall announcements as these are issued.

While no illnesses have apparently been reported either in Canada or the USA in association with this recall, FSIS offers the following information for consumers:

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

Canadian E. coli O157:H7 Recall Expands

Sept 18, 2012 update.- The major Canadian ground beef recall has been expanded to include the following retailers: Loblaws, Extra Foods, No Frills, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Shop Easy, SuperValu, Superstore, Westfair, Your Independent Grocer, Sobeys, Foodland, IGA, Metro, Super C, and Entrepot de Viandes. Please refer to the expanded Health Hazard Alert for a detailed list of products, expiration dates, and provinces where they were sold.  

Following is the original eFoodAlert report, posted September 17, 2012:

XL Foods, Inc. (Edmonton, AB) has recalled ground beef products sold under the Calahoo Meats, Kirkland Signature, and Safeway brands, in addition to unbranded ground beef products sold in Walmart stores, because the meat may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the recall is “part of an ongoing food safety investigation.” Nevertheless, CFIA reports that no illnesses have been associated with the consumption of the recalled products.

The ground beef products were sold nationwide through distributors, retailers and food service organizations. Following is a list of recalled products, including distribution information:

Calahoo Meats

  • 4/1 B.B. Burgers. 4.54 kg; Item  0200525; Lot 2244; Distributed in Alberta

Kirkland Signature (Costco)

  • Lean ground beef 15% fat or less. Various weights; UPC starts with 2 21927; Pack Dates between 12AU30 and 12SE15; Distributed nationally
  • Lean ground beef patties / 15% fat or less. Various weights; UPC starts with 2 52733; Pack Dates between 12AU30 and 12SE15 Distributed nationally
  • Ground beef tube 86% lean full case / Manual weight. Various weights; UPC starts with 2 97420; Pack Dates between 12AU30 and 12SE15; Distributed nationally

Safeway

  • Ground Beef Regular. Various weights; UPC starts with 201637; EST 573; Best Before or Freeze By dates between 12SE09 and 12SE23; Distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • Ground Beef Lean. Various weights; UPC starts with 201670; EST 573; Best Before or Freeze By dates between 12SE09 and 12SE23; Distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • Ground Beef Lean Large Pack. Various weights; UPC starts with 201654; EST 573; Best Before or Freeze By dates between 12SE09 and 12SE23; Distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • Lean Ground Beef Patties Fresh. Various weights; UPC starts with 201650; EST 573; Best Before or Freeze By dates between 12SE09 and 12SE23; Distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan Medium
  • Ground Beef Chuck. Various weights; UPC starts with 201730; EST 573; Best Before or Freeze By dates between 12SE09 and 12SE23;Distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • Ground Beef Extra Lean. Various weights; UPC starts with 201681; EST 573; Best Before or Freeze By dates between 12SE09 and 12SE23; Distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • Ground Beef Extra Lean Large Pack. Various weights; UPC starts with 201661; EST 573; Best Before or Freeze By dates between 12SE09 and 12SE23; Distributed in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • MS Lean Ground Beef Patties Sundried Tomato & Asiago Cheese. Various weights; UPC starts with 209544; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • MS Lean Beef Patties Cheddar Cheese. Various weights; UPC starts with 209553; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • MS Lean Ground Beef Meatloaf. Various weights; UPC starts with 209289; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • MS Lean Ground Beef Sliders. Various weights; UPC starts with 209893; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • MS Meatballs – Made from lean ground beef and pork. Various weights; UPC starts with 209241; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • MS Beef Lean Ground Stuffed Peppers. Various weights; UPC starts with 209628; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • MS Ground Sirloin Patties. Various weights; UPC starts with 201674; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
  • Lean Ground Beef. Various weights; UPC starts with 221643; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia
  • Extra Lean Ground Beef. Various weights; UPC starts with 221670; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia
  • Regular Ground Beef. Various weights; UPC starts with 221634; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia
  • Ground Chuck. Various weights; UPC starts with 201637; Best Before dates between 12AU29 and 12SE19; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia

Walmart stores

  • Regular Ground Beef. 454 g/1 lb; UPC 0 27182 04350 2; EST 128; Sep/17/12, Sep/18/12, & Sep/20/12; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
  • Medium Ground Beef. 1.36 kg/3 lb; UPC 0 27182 04367 0; EST 128; Sep/18/12; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
  • Lean Ground Beef. 454 g/1 lb; UPC 0 27182 04373 1; EST 128; Sep/17/12, & Sep/20/12; Distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Unbranded

  • Beef Bearpaw Burger, 5oz. 5.10 kg; UPC 6 26957 83655 6; EST 128; Pack Date Sep 07, 2012; Distributed in Alberta

XL Foods, Inc., dba Lakeside Packers (Est 38) is based in Alberta. Some of the recalled meat was ground in a separate facility – XL Grinding (Est 128) – and supplied to Walmart. A portion of the recalled meat was further processed by Vantage Foods (MB) Inc, Winnipeg, MB (Est 573) and supplied to Safeway.

Please refer to the CFIA Health Hazard Alert for photos of the recalled product labels.

eFoodAlert Advice to Consumers

If you or a family member develops symptoms of acute gastroenteritis (stomach ache, diarrhea, nausea, etc.) within a week after having consumed one of these products, please seek immediate medical attention. Children are especially susceptible to serious secondary illness (hemolytic uremic syndrome) following an infection with E. coli O157:H7.