A nation-wide ground beef recall has affected products in both the local supermarkets in Westlock, but both companies say they have quickly dealt with the issue and pulled the products in question.
The initial recall came early last week, after the Canada Food Inspection Agency reported possible E. coli contamination in several ground beef products from an XL Foods plant in Alberta.
The Sept. 16 recall included some items sold under the Calahoo Meats, Kirkland Signature and Safeway brands. That recall was expanded Sept. 17 to include items sold under the Sobeys brand and items prepared for Loblaw Inc., which operates Extra Foods.
An Alberta Health Services official said Friday that there were four cases of E. coli infection in Edmonton and one in Calgary, but at this point there is no evidence indicating these cases are linked to the recall.
“With E. coli it’s relatively common; we do see a few cases each month,” said Dr. Gerry Predy, the senior medical officer of health. “Just because we have these five cases it does not necessarily mean that it’s linked.”
He said the investigation is ongoing, and the source of those infections has not been identified.
Predy went on to say that the risk of infection from the recalled products was minimal as long as it is thoroughly cooked.
“Even if they bought and consumed the recalled product, as long as they cooked it well they probably aren’t at risk,” he said.
Signs of infection include stomach cramps and diarrhea which may contain blood. People infected with E. coli generally recover, with fewer than 10 per cent developing hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a complication from E. coli infection.
Most who develop HUS fully recover, but there is an increased risk for the very old and the very young to not completely recover, and it is possible that fatality can result.
Regardless of the recall, Predy said it’s important to thoroughly cook ground beef — E. coli develops on the surface of meat, so while it’s not necessarily dangerous to cook a piece of steak rare, ground beef must always be cooked thoroughly.
Local grocery store managers have said the recall is being treated seriously, referring to the corporate offices for more information.
Mike Lupien, director of communications for Sobeys West, said Sobeys was aware of the investigation into the XL Foods plant before the recall was even expanded to include Sobeys products, and had already begun to take action.
Nonetheless, Sobeys customers should be cautious about ground beef products they may have already purchased.
“It is possible that people have purchased those and have them at home, or might have eaten it by now,” he said, but noted there have been no incidents that he is aware of where people have got sick by eating the products in question.
Lupien said while product recalls are not uncommon for Sobeys stores, the recalls are usually for reasons of quality control instead of food safety.
“It’s not often we get them like this.”
Audrey Gottfried, the manager of the Extra Foods in Westlock, said her store had been following the company’s procedure to address the recall.
“It is a pretty good program and we’re on top of things right away,” she said, but declined to offer details, referring the inquiry to the corporate office.
Loblaws representatives did not respond to a request for interview by deadline.
