OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 12/16/12 -- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Cardinal Select brand Prime Rib Beef Burgers described below because this product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The affected product, Cardinal brand Prime Rib Beef Burgers, is sold in 1.13 kg packages bearing UPC 0 63351 01561 1. The affected product bears the code BEST BEFORE 2013 JL 31 EST 752.

This product has been distributed nationally.

This recall is the result of an ongoing food safety investigation being conducted at Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. This investigation was initiated as a result of recent product testing associated with an outbreak investigation. There may be recalls of additional products as the investigation at this facility continues.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may 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 CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. at 905-459-4436 ext 265 or cardinalrecall@cardinalmeats.com

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.