OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 07/02/09 -- Audio clips available at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/relations/indexaude.shtml.

The public warning issued on June 30, 2009 has been updated to clarify UPC information and to amend the list of stores distributing the affected products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain beef products described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

This recall of beef products in Canada is related to the expanded recall of beef products in the USA by JBS Swift Beef Company, Greeley, Colorado due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_034_2009_Expanded/index.asp

The following President's Choice (PC) brand beef products - steaks, roasts and ground beef, bearing Best Before dates April 29 to June 16, 2009 inclusive, are affected by this alert. These fresh (not frozen) beef products were sold at retail in variable weight packages consisting of trays with a plastic over wrap as well as from the in-store meat counters. Consumers are advised to check their freezers and dispose of if they have the affected beef products.

To view the affected beef product, please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ms.pdf

These products have been distributed in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada from the following retail stores:

Ontario:

- Cash & Carry

- Real Canadian Wholesale Club

- Fortinos

- Freshmart

- Loblaws

- Real Canadian Superstore

- Loblaw Superstore

- Valu-mart

- Your Independent Grocer

- Zehrs

Quebec:

- Loblaws

- Provigo

Atlantic:

- Cash & Carry

- Real Canadian Wholesale Club

- Dominion

- Freshmart

- Red & White

- Quick Mart

- Save Easy

- Atlantic Superstore

- Valu-mart

In addition to the products listed above, the following beef product is also affected:

Beef Knuckle Roast, 4 to 5 lbs size, sold fresh from April 30 to June 10, 2009 from Sue's Market, 205 Don Head Village Blvd., Richmond Hill, Ontario.

There have been no reported illnesses in Canada associated with the consumption of these products.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria my cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The manufacturers are voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information consumers and industry can call the 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).

For information on E. coli O157:H7, visit the Food Facts web page at:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.