E. coli: ground beef sold at Montreal grocery store recalled

Recalled ground beef. (Groupe CNW/Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation)

Montrealers who purchased lean ground beef from Supermarché Épilys are urged to return it as it could contain E. coli bacteria.

The meat, which is sold refrigerated in a polystyrene tray covered with plastic film, is being recalled as a precautionary measure. It was solely sold at the supermarket on Pie IX Boulevard.

Those who bought it should return it to the supermarket or throw it away.

“It should be noted that proper cooking of meat destroys E. coli bacteria that produce shigatoxins. The preparation of cooked dishes, such as spaghetti sauce, shepherd’s pie, or meat pie, requires a fairly long cooking time and a sufficiently high temperature to destroy the bacteria,” said the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ) in a news release.

No cases of illness associated with the recalled beef have been reported to the MAPAQ.

“Foods contaminated with shigatoxin-producing E. coli bacteria do not necessarily show visible signs of spoilage or have a suspicious odor, but consuming them can cause serious, even fatal, illness,” according to MAPAQ.

Symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal pain, often with bloody stool. These symptoms usually appear two to ten days after consuming contaminated food.

If someone experiences nausea, vomiting and a fever, it is recommended to seek medical attention.

Most symptoms disappear within five to ten days.