E. coli: Questions and answers
What is E. coli O157:H7?
While E. coli bacteria live naturally in the intestines of cattle and other animals, when the bacteria is consumed by people it can cause serious and potentially life-threatening illness. How does it make people ill?
People can get sick in a variety of ways, including contact with cattle or feces of infected people, eating undercooked food contaminated with E. coli, or through cross- contamination when preparing food.
Animals and people can be carriers of E. coli without showing signs of illness, according to Health Canada, and can spread the bacteria to foods, surfaces or other people. Food that is contaminated with E. coli may not necessarily look or smell spoiled. What are the symptoms of an E. coli illness? How soon after eating a contaminated product do symptoms appear?
Symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and headache. They usually appear within three to four days, but can occur up to 10 days later. Symptoms last from five to 10 days, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. What products have been recalled? Where and when were these products sold?
In all, XL Foods Inc. has voluntarily recalled more than 300 meat products that have been distributed to grocery stores, hotels and restaurants nationwide. Products range from ground beef to meatballs, meat loaf, stuffed peppers and steaks.
A complete list of recalled products is posted on the CFIA’s website, at www.inspection. gc.ca/recalls_XLFoods.
So far, the CFIA has extended the list of products being pulled eight times. As more products are identified and traced, the CFIA says more recall announcements are likely.
I just bought $100 worth of prime rib last Saturday. How do I know if it’s part of the recall?
Consumers are advised to check the recalled products chart on the CFIA website, or to check with the store where the meat was purchased. What should I do if I have affected products in my fridge or freezer?
Recalled products can be returned to the retailer where they were purchased or thrown away. They should not be eaten. If consumers have already prepared and stored recalled meat, they are advised not to consume it. What is XL Foods and where does the company operate?
XL Foods is a large privately owned beef processor. It is part of the Nilsson Bros. Group of companies, based in Edmonton. XL Foods operates facilities in Calgary, Edmonton, Brooks and Nebraska. XL Foods Lakeside, the meat-packing facility in Brooks, was bought by XL from Tyson Foods Inc. in March 2009.