OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 12/14/12 -- The public warning issued on December 12, 2013 has been updated to include additional products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Butcher's Choice Hickory Barbecue Beef Burgers described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The following products are affected by this recall:

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Product                               Best Before Code                   UPC
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Butchers Choice Hickory Barbecue                                            
 Beef Burgers                       2013 FE 10 EST 752       0 60383 89364 4
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Butchers Choice Hickory Barbecue                                            
 Beef Burgers                       2013 FE 01 EST 752       0 60383 89364 4
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These products have been distributed nationally.

This recall is the result of E. coli O157:H7 product testing by the CFIA related to an ongoing outbreak investigation. The CFIA is currently testing additional products collected from across the country. The recall may be further updated to include other codes or products as test results are received. In addition, the CFIA is conducting an investigation at the producing facility, which could lead to the recall of more 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.

Loblaw Companies Ltd., Brampton, Ontario is 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 one of the following numbers:

Loblaw Customer Relations at 1-800-296-2332 or customerservice@presidentschoice.ca;

Public Relations Department, Loblaw Companies Limited at (905) 459-2500 or customerservice@loblaws.ca; 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).

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 all food recalls, visit the CFIA's Food Recall Report at: http://active.inspection.gc.ca/eng/corp/recarapp_dbe.asp

To find out more about receiving recalls by e-mail, and other food safety facts, visit: www.foodsafety.gc.ca. Food and consumer product recalls are also available at http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca.