The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Hillview Meat Processor are recalling raw pork and pork organ products for possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. There have been “no illnesses definitively linked to the consumption of these products,” according to the press release.
The products were sold in Calgary, Alberta at seven stores. The pork and pork organs may have been transformed into raw muscle cuts (such as pork tenderloin), ground pork, sausages, and raw ready-to-eat products. They may have been sold fresh or frozen, up to and including February 16, 2015. They may have been sold pre-packaged or clerk served, with or without a label. If you are not sure whether or not you purchased one of these recalled products, contact the retailer and ask.
The products were sold at Paolini’s Sausage and Meat Ltd. at 5735 3 Street SE; Trimming Fresh Meats at 3, 6219 Centre Street NW; V&T Meats at 3111 17 Avenue SE; Leung Ky Meat and Seafood Ltd. at 1919 31 Street SE; Community Foods at 119, 3208 8 Avenue NE; Hungarian Deli at 4020 26 Street SE; and Rocky’s Sausage Haus at 37 4 Street NE. All of these stores are located in Calgary.
If you purchased pork products at any of these establishments, do not eat them. Even if you cook the pork thoroughly, the E. coli bacteria that may be present may produce a toxin that is not destroyed by heat. Throw the products away in a sealed or double bagged package, or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 infection include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that may be bloody and/or watery. This infection can sometimes progress to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that can cause kidney failure, strokes, and death. Symptoms of HUS include little or no urine output, pale skin, lethargy, easy bruising, a skin rash, and bleeding from the nose or mouth. If anyone is experiencing any of these symptoms after eating these products, go to a doctor immediately.
