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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a statement that warns people to not eat a number of fresh and frozen ground beef products. The products in question are sold at Canada Safeway stores and independent grocery store. The products, in question, may be contaminated by a potentially deadly strain of E. coli bacteria.

To date there have been five reports of illness that is linked to the products and the concern is that the culprit is O157:H7 strain.

The following products are affected by the alert:

• Fresh ground beef (lean, regular, extra lean and market trim) sold at Safeway and some independent grocery stores in British Columbia and Alberta between May 24 and June 5.

These products bear "best before" dates from May 25 to June 6 inclusively. Consumers who have purchased fresh ground beef products from independent stores during the time periods described above and are unsure whether they have an affected product are advised to contact the retail store where they were purchased.

• Butcher’s Cut frozen ground beef patties in the 1.13-kg size. The affected patties, bearing UPC 58200 21604 and a Julian code date of 143, were sold on and after May 24, 2007, at Safeway stores in Western Canada and in Ontario, west of Thunder Bay.

• Sunny Dawn frozen ground beef patties. The affected patties, bearing the Julian date 143-07, were sold on or after May 24, 2007 at some independent grocery stores in Western Canada, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and in Ontario west of Thunder Bay.

There may be no outward signs (smell, appearance) that the meat is infected with E. Coli. CFIA is informing the public that eating food that is contaminated with this bacteria may may cause death or serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses, such as permanent kidney damage.

Some symptoms, that may appear if you have eaten contaminated beef, are severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. In some cases people may have seizures or strokes and others may require blood transfusions and kidney dialysis.

The food is being voluntarily recalled by Canada Safeway and CFIA is monitoring the recall.