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HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

E. coli 0157:H7 IN STAMPEDE MEAT INC. FROZEN RAW SEASONED BEEF STEAKS

OTTAWA, June 30, 2003 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning food service institutions not to serve seasoned beef steak products produced by Stampede Meat Inc., Chicago, Ill, U.S.A. which may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.

The following products are affected by this alert:

1. "STAMPEDE MEAT, INC., USDA SELECT OR HIGHER SEASONED BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN TRI TIP STEAKS, tenderized with bromelin and ficin, PRODUCT OF U.S.A." bearing the product code "5500."

2. "STAMPEDE MEAT, INC., SEASONED BEEF T - BONE STEAKS tenderized with bromelin and ficin PRODUCT OF U.S.A." bearing the product code "9000."

3. "STAMPEDE MEAT, INC., SEASONED BONELESS BEEF RIB EYE STEAKS tenderized with bromelin and ficin PRODUCT OF U.S.A." bearing the product code "9200."

In addition to the product descriptions listed above, each product subject to this recall bears either a lot code, a date code or a use-by date code that is displayed on the product label or the case itself. The only products that are subject to this alert are those that bear one of the codes listed below. Products that bear codes other than those listed below are not subject to this alert.

Products that can be identified by lot codes, begin with the one of the following numbers: "07603", "07703", "07803", "07903", "08003", "08103".

Products that can be identified by date codes will have one of the following dates: "March 17, 03", "March 18, 03", "March 19, 03", "March 20, 03", "March 21, 03", "March 22, 03", "03 17 03", "03 18 03", "03 19 03", "03 20 03", "03 21 03", "03 22 03".

Products that can be identified by use by dating will contain the phrase "Best If Used By:" and one of the following dates: "Sept 13 2003", "Sept 14 2003", "Sept 15 2003", "Sept 16 2003", "Sept 17 2003", "Sept 18 2003".

The affected products, imported from the U.S.A., were produced between March 17 and March 22, 2003 and bear the establishment code "EST. 19113" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The affected products are believed to have been sold only to food service institutions. These products are known to have been distributed in Western Canada, but may have also been distributed nationally.

Generally, steaks are not considered a high-risk source of E. coli 0157:H7. However, the products affected by this alert were injected with tenderizers and flavour-enhancing solutions, which may have transferred the bacteria from the surface to the inside of the products. Similar tenderized beef products are safe if properly handled and cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 71 degrees C or 160 degrees F.

A recall was initiated in the U.S.A. after epidemiological case studies conducted by public health officials concluded that the recalled products may be linked to five E. coli 0157:H7 illnesses in the U.S.A. The CFIA is not aware of any illnesses in Canada linked to the affected products.

E. coli 0157:H7 may cause life-threatening illness by producing a toxin that breaks down the lining of the intestines and damages the kidneys. Food contaminated with E. coli bacteria will not look or smell spoiled. These products should not be consumed.

The CFIA is continuing with the investigation. For more information on this issue, please visit:

Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/recalls/rec_pr.htm and click on the news release titled "Illinois Firm Recalls Beef Products For Possible E. coli 0157:H7".

CFIA’s Food Safety Tips on Escherichia coli 0157:H7 can be viewed at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/foodfacts/ecolie.shtml.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time - Monday to Friday.

For information on receiving recalls by electronic mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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