HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN BEEF PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN E. coli O157:H7 BACTERIA

OTTAWA, November 13, 2007 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. are warning the public not to consume Compliments brand frozen beef burgers described below because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The following Compliments brand products are affected by this alert:

These products have been distributed nationally.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of these products.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd.
1-800-363-1439

The CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on E. coli O157:H7, visit the Food Facts web page at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml

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

- 30 -

Media enquiries:

• Fact Sheet: E. coli O157:H7 Food Safety Facts
• Audio Clips for Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts