XL Foods plant in Alberta has not yet corrected E. coli contamination risk: CFIA

OTTAWA – Food safety officials in Ottawa say the Alberta facility at the centre of a massive beef recall won’t resume operations until it has taken the steps necessary to ensure its products are free of E. coli.

XL Foods Inc., in Brooks, Alta., has had its operating licence temporarily suspended by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Brian Evans of the CFIA says XL Foods has not yet taken the steps necessary to allow it to resume operations, and won’t be allowed to do so until it does.

Evans says all products currently at the plant are “under CFIA detention and control,” and will be released only after being tested for E. coli.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture extended its public health alert about beef from the company’s Lakeside plant to stores in 30 states, including retail giant Walmart.

Canada revoked the plant’s permit to export beef to the U.S. on Sept. 13 at the request of the U.S.D.A.

Since Sept. 16, the CFIA has issued at least eight recall alerts for XL Foods ground beef products from its plant in Brooks over E. coli concerns.

There are no reported cases of people getting sick from eating the ground beef.