Canadian beef recalled for E. coli risk

Beef products currently sold in the U.S. from Canada are currently being recalled due to E. coli, according to officials with Food & Water Watch.

One grocery chain, Alberstons, said Monday that it is voluntarily recalling a number of ground beef products sold at its stores in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, due to the contamination.

Albertsons is recalling the products in all of its stores in Washington and Oregon, as well as three stores in northern Idaho: Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Lewiston. The products are no longer for sale at any stores. No other Albertsons stores are affected by the recall.

According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), it was known earlier in the month that meat from XL Foods tested positive for the deadly pathogen E. coli.

No illnesses have been reported.

Albertsons said the move follows an expanded recall by XL Foods Inc. for ground beef products imported to the U.S. from Canada.

On Tuesday night, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency expanded its recalls of products from XL for the seventh time since Sept.16.

The raw ground beef products were sold at its full service counters at the customer's request or sold in packaged form with an Albertsons store label between Sept. 3-21.

Customers should return any of the recalled products for a refund or replacement.

According to officials with Food and Water Watch, Safeway also issued an expanded recall announcement Tuesday night, adding beef products in its stores in Idaho to its recall, but that information is not reflected on the FSIS recall distribution list.

The recall includes the following packaged products with the Albertsons store label:

1 lb. fresh ground Beef Patties with the UPC: 7-52907-60030 and "USE BY" date of 9/11/12.

1 lb. fresh ground beef chub with the UPC: 7-52907-18271 and a "USE BY" date of 9/18/12 or 9/21/12.

3 lb. fresh ground beef chub with the UPC: 7-52907-18251 and a "USE BY" date of 9/18/12 or 9/21/12.

The recall includes the following packaged products with the Safeway store label:

Fresh Ground Beef Patties 80% Lean- 20% Fat—Four 1/3rd Pound Patties with the UPC: 75290760083 and "USE BY" date of 09/12/12.

Fresh Ground Beef Patties 80% Lean- 20% Fat—Ten 1/3rd Pound Patties with the UPC: 75290760084 and "USE BY" date of 09/12/12.

73% Lean Ground Beef 27% Fat 3 lb. Chub with the UPC:  75290718251 and "USE BY" date of 09/19/12 and 09/19/12.

96% Lean Ground Beef 4% Fat with the UPC: 20166500000 and "USE BY" date of 09/11/12 and 09/22/12.

Northwest 93% Lean Ground Beef 7% Fat Natural with the UPC:  20169700000 and "USE BY" date of 09/11/12, 09/19/12 and 09/22/12.

80% Lean Ground Beef Patties 20% Fat with the UPC: 75290760084 and "USE BY" date of 09/12/12 and 09/22/12.

80% Lean Ground Beef Patties 20% Fat with the UPC: 75290760083 and "USE BY" date of 09/19/12 and 09/22/12.

90% Lean Ground Sirloin Beef Patties 10% Fat with the UPC: 75290760085 and "USE BY" date of 09/11/12.

On Wednesday, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News learned that Haggen and TOP Foods has recalled their beef products. For more information go to www.haggen.com.

Food & Water Watch works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable.

KIRO