CFIA issues E. coli alert for Cardinal Select Prime Rib Beef Burgers

OTTAWA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is expanding a nationwide recall of frozen beef burgers that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

The public is now warned not to consume Cardinal Select brand Prime Rib Beef Burgers sold in 1.13 kilogram packages with a best before date of July 31, 2013 (UPC 0 63351 01561 1).

The same warning was issued yesterday for Butcher’s Choice Hickory Barbecue Beef Burgers and Butcher’s Choice Garlic Peppercorn Beef Burgers sold at Loblaw stores across Canada.

This recalls are the result of an ongoing food safety investigation at Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. in Brampton, Ont.

On Dec. 5 the Public Health Agency of Canada notified the CFIA about five people who got sick after eating E. coli contaminated burgers in Ontario and Quebec.Officials, however, have still yet to confirm whether the illnesses are connected to the burgers being recalled.

Food contaminated with E. coli can cause serious illnesses, but the five victims of this latest out break are all reported to have recovered or be recovering.