E. coli prompts B.C. halal meat warning

Beef and lamb products produced at Pitt Meadows Meat Packers in Pitt Meadows, B.C., may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and should not be consumed, warns the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The meat products are halal, meaning they are permissible under Islamic law, and were sold through Middle Eastern food markets in the metropolitan Vancouver area.

CFIA advises that the contaminated meat products may not look or smell spoiled, but could cause potentially life-threatening illnesses.

Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Serious cases could lead to seizures or strokes, and some may result in permanent kidney damage and the need for kidney dialysis. In the most severe cases, people consuming E. coli infected products may die.

There have been no reports of illnesses associated with the current advisory.

Affected products were sold at these markets:

• Bengal Meat Limited in Surrey, ground beef and curry beef sold Sept. 4-13.
• Yaas Bazaar Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Food in North Vancouver, ground beef and lean ground lamb packed Sept. 3-7.
• Shaista's Halal in Surrey, extra lean ground beef sold Sept. 3-13.
• Al-Safa Halal Meat in Burnaby, lean ground beef packed Sept. 3-5.
• Madina Halal Meat in Burnaby, beef trims and beef stew sold Sept. 3-5.
• Country Meadow Meats, Pitt Meadows, frozen lean ground beef and ground beef patties sold Sept. 3-11.