The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released an expanded list of potentially E. coli contaminated beef products from XL Foods as of Oct. 1.
The recall list includes steaks, sausages, ribs and ground meat that could have been packaged up to Sept. 30.
The recall extends across Canada and includes about 1,500 items and affects 65 retailers as well restaurants, hotels and institutions.
Some of the products may have been sent to other distributers and turned into meat patties or sausages according to the CFIA release late Oct. 1. Other products may have been repackaged and were not labelled and sold through smaller food outlets.
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The XL Foods facility at Brooks, Alta. has been closed since Sept. 27 as the company and CFIA continue to collect information from those who may have received the product. Investigations also continue to trace the source of the bacteria and improve sanitation.
The products continue to trace back to manufacturing dates of Aug. 24, 27, 28, 29 and Sept 5. Consumers are advised to check with the stores where they bought the products or throw suspect meat away.
Alberta Health Services investigated 10 cases of E. coli infection but only five were linked to the meat recall, including a Calgary child who was hospitalized after eating beef during the Labour Day weekend.
The Saskatchewan health ministry is checking 13 reported cases of infection and are conducting tests to determine whether there is a connection to the XL beef. Laboratory results are expected within the next few days.
Updated information on the beef product recall is available at www.inspection.gc.ca. Information on safe food handling practices is available at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/kitchen-cuisine/interact/index-eng.php.
