Quebec – Notice not to consume lean ground meat (beef or veal) prepared and sold by Boucherie du Terroir in Montreal – STEC E.coli

Quebec

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the Food Inspection Division of the City of Montreal and the company Boucherie du Terroir, located at 2625, boulevard Rosemont , in Montreal, warns the public not to consume the products indicated in the table below, because these foods are likely to contain the bacterium E. coli producing shigatoxins.

The products that are the subject of this warning have been offered for sale only at 2625, boulevard Rosemont , in Montreal (Valmont grocery store). They were vacuum-packed in a transparent plastic wrapper. The label of the products included, in addition to their name, the words “Boucherie Valmont”.

The operator is voluntarily recalling the products in question. It has agreed with MAPAQ and the Food Inspection Division of the City of Montreal to distribute this warning as a precautionary measure. Also, people who have any of these products in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away.

It should be noted that proper cooking of meat destroys the  E. coli  bacteria in all cases. The preparation of ready meals, such as spaghetti sauce, shepherd’s pie or meat pie, requires a long enough cooking time and a high enough temperature to destroy the bacteria.

Foods contaminated with the E. coli bacterium that produces shigatoxins do not necessarily show any visible spoilage or suspicious smell, but the consumption of these foods can cause serious and even fatal illnesses. They are manifested by diarrhea and abdominal pain, often accompanied by blood in the stool. These symptoms usually appear two to ten days after eating contaminated food. Nausea, vomiting and sometimes fever may also occur. When these symptoms appear, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor without delay. Most symptoms disappear within five to ten days.

It should be noted that no case of illness associated with the consumption of these foods has been reported to MAPAQ to date.