Recall of beef and veal products expands due to E. coli concerns

Cross-Canada recall of beef and veal There is a large recall of raw beef and veal in Ontario involving dozens of items sold at restaurants and a major multinational retail chain.

TORONTO -- Canada’s food inspection agency has issued another recall  of raw beef and veal products due ongoing concerns over E. coli contamination.

Since mid-October, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued multiple recalls of raw beef and veal products from stores and restaurants across the country.

The latest warns of beef shank and beef shank steak sold at Foody World in Scarborough, Ont.

An Oct. 28 notice recalled raw beef sold at several grocers and meat markets in Ontario. This included several types of beef sold by The Sweet Potato, as well as grass fed striploin steaks from Artisan Farms (Bruce Valley). It was subsequently updated to include meat products from Macgregors Meat and Seafood, Garden Foods, Karlovo and Oceans Fresh Food Market.

An earlier recall included veal chops from Bauer Butcher in Waterloo, veal racks from Boffo's Fine Foods in Oakville and flank steaks from Stock-In Trade, Butcher & Kitchen in Toronto.

Also included in that recall were products from Industry, veal rack chops from Leavoy Rowe Beef Co. Inc., beef stir-fry from Market Fresh Meat & Produce Inc. in Guelph and veal rib chops from One Fine Food in Peterborough, Ont.

On Oct. 24, the agency issued a recall notice in Ontario for raw beef and veal sold at six different grocers and meat markets, including prime rib steaks at Howard the Butcher’s Meats and Deli in Caledon East and brisket sold at Vince Gasparro’s Meat Market in Toronto.

More than 800 products have been recalled since Oct. 12. Many of the items named in the recall were sold in Ontario and Quebec, but recalls have also been issued from British Columbia to the Atlantic provinces.

On Oct. 23, the CFIA recalled eight beef products sold at PAT Central Market and Roast Fine Foods in Toronto. The products included those with “packed on” dates between June and July this year.

On Oct. 22, the agency recalled products sold at markets including The Friendly Butcher in Toronto and various Organic Garage stores in the province. Earlier in the week, the CFIA had recalled more than 50 beef products from Whole Foods Market and recalled nine different beef products sold at grocers in Scarborough and Mississauga, Ont.

Cracked pepper beef sirloin from Walmart stores in Ontario and Alberta, bacon-wrapped beef medallions from Overwaitea in B.C., and marinated “Miami ribs” from Pusateri’s Fine Foods in Toronto, Ont., were among dozens of consumer products previously recalled by the CFIA.

Items also include products sold for commercial and institutional use, including hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, and nursing homes across Ontario.

Other companies named in the notice include Nortown Foods in Thornhill, Ont., The Garden Basket in Markham and Jian Hing Food Mart in Scarborough.

“If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor,” the notice reads. “Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea.”

The CFIA says there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of the recalled products.

On Oct. 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a public health alert for some raw beef products imported from Canada that are linked to the growing recall.

According to the alert, the recalled products were distributed to institutions and retailers in Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

A complete list of recalled products and where they are sold can be searched on the CFIA website.

--- With files from CTV News’ Mariam Matti, Ben Cousins, Brooklyn Neustaeter, Jeremiah Rodriguez, Alexandra Mae Jones