The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and New Middleast Supermarket in Ottawa are warning consumers not to eat finely ground beef, used to make Kebbeh or Kibbeh, sold at the store because it may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.
Product details:
- Finely ground raw beef known to be used for Kebbeh.
- Sold at the New Middleast Supermarket at 1755 Bank Street in Ottawa, Ontario.
- Sold on December 28 and 29, 2011.
- Served from the fresh meat counter in plastic bags wrapped with paper.
- Packages may not have a label.
Consumers may have the beef in freezers. Contact the retailer if you aren’t sure if you have this particular ground beef or not.
There has been one confirmed illness connected to the consumption of this product. For more information, you can call the store at 1-613-526-3423 or the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.
E. coli 0157:H7 is particularly dangerous because it can cause Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome which can lead to permanent kidney damage or death. Food contaminated with bacteria usually doesn’t look spoiled or small bad. Those in high-risk groups, including the elderly, the very young, pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems, and those with chronic illnesses, are more susceptible to complications from bacterial infections.
