Public Health Alert Expanded for Imported Canadian Beef from XL Foods

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is expanding the Public Health Alert for XL Foods (Canadian Establishment 038) to include all beef and beef products produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5. 

FSIS was notified that XL Foods has expanded its recall to include all beef and beef products produced on the above dates. 

Consumer info 

Because FSIS has been informed that all beef and beef products produced on the above dates are being recalled by XL Foods, the agency is working to make the public aware that these products are considered adulterated and should be returned to the place of purchase or destroyed. 

Products subject to the recall include, but are not limited to, steaks, roasts, mechanically tenderized steaks and roasts, and ground beef. 

Information for industry 

FSIS has reason to believe, based on information provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), that beef from cattle slaughtered during the period associated with the recall was produced under insanitary conditions that resulted in a high event period (a period when the trim from carcasses exhibited an unusually high frequency of positive findings for the possible presence of E. coli O157:H7). 

Therefore, all products produced on the affected dates are considered adulterated and must be either destroyed or verified as having received a full lethality treatment. 

CFIA is overseeing the effectiveness of the recall in Canada and FSIS is overseeing the effectiveness in the United States. FSIS continues to verify that all receivers of affected beef from the Canadian-initiated recall have been notified and have removed product from commerce, and will take appropriate action if prohibited activity is found. FSIS will update the retail consignee list as FSIS verifies information received during the recall effectiveness verification process. 

FSIS testing of raw boneless beef trim product from Canadian Establishment 038, XL Foods, Inc., confirmed positive for E. coli O157:H7 on September 3, 2012. After alerting the CFIA of the positive results, the agencies launched an investigation including additional testing, and CFIA announced a recall by XL Foods, Inc. of a variety of ground beef products on Sept. 16. 

FSIS also issued a Public Health Alert (PHA) on September 20, 2012, provided updated information on September 21 and September 26, 2012.  CFIA has now notified FSIS that XL Foods is recalling all product produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5. 

This latest Public Health Alert applies to all beef and beef products produced by Canadian Establishment 038, XL Foods, Inc. on these dates.