The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced this week that Leadbetters Foods Inc. is recalling its Leadbetters Cowboy Beef Burgers for potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7.  

According to a press release, CFIA is investigating an E. coli outbreak in Ontario that may have been caused by the consumption of the Cowboy Beef Burgers.  CFIA stated that it is collaborating with the Ohio Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Health Canada, and other health units in Ontario to investigate the E. coli outbreak.  

Leadbetters Foods recalled Leadbetters Cowboy Beef Burgers sold frozen in 2.27 Kg (5 lb) cartons containing 20 X 113.5 gr (4 oz) burgers bearing the UPC 8 73587 00003 5 and code 20169 that were distributed in Ontario on Sept. 8.  

E. coli infection is characterized by the sudden onset of abdominal pain and severe cramps, followed within 24 hours by diarrhea.  These symptoms typically occur within 2 to 5 days of ingestion of E. coli, but the incubation period, or time between the ingestion of E. coli bacteria and the onset of illness, may be as broad as 1 to 10 days.

As the infection progresses, diarrhea becomes watery and then may become bloody.  E. coli symptoms also may include vomiting and fever, although fever is an uncommon symptom.

In about 10 percent of E. coli patients E. coli infection progresses to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of E. coli infection that is now recognized as the most common cause of acute kidney failure in infants and young children.

For more information about the recalled products, consumers can contact Leadbetters Foods Inc. at 1-705-325-9922 or info@cowboysteaks.com; or CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).