The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has expanded the recall of beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
The recall covers beef products from the Brooks, Alberta-based XL Foods Inc., sold in various stores across the country such as CO-OP, Walmart, and Metro, among others.
The latest beef products to be added to the alert list include muscle cuts, which are typically steaks and roasts.
Metro announced Saturday that it has removed all XL Foods beef products from its shelves in Quebec and Ontario, the two provinces in which it operates.
The CFIA was first alerted after E. coli was found in products at an Alberta facility supplied by XL Foods on Sept. 4.
Unsatisfied with XL Foods’ progress in implementing corrective actions to address the issue, the CFIA last week temporarily suspended the company’s licence to operate.
XL Foods said in a statement on its website that it is committed to producing high-quality beef products.
“We will continue to act in the best interests of consumers by working cooperatively with the CFIA to ensure the completion of the recall, assist in the ongoing investigation, and implement enhanced food safety protocols,” the statement said.
Contaminated products were also found south of the border earlier this month, leading the CFIA to remove XL Foods from the list of establishments eligible to export to the U.S.
The CFIA had earlier been criticized for not acting quickly enough to address the issue, and opposition parties charged that the federal government wasn’t putting the safety of Canadians as a priority.
The CFIA issued a statement last week detailing the steps it took to protect consumers and defending its actions.
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