Multiple Canadian ground beef recalls for E. coli O157:H7 have been issued since October 2025, all triggered by CFIA test results — and no illnesses have been reported in any case so far.

Recall Trigger: CFIA test results · Reported Illnesses: None · Strain: E. coli O157:H7 · Distribution: Costco, Walmart, Safeway, others · Recent Dates: Oct 2025, Jan 2026, Mar 2026

Quick snapshot

1Key Recalls
  • Oct 2025: Certain ground beef from Pistachios — Quality Meats & Groceries (CFIA Recalls)
  • Jan 2026: No Name brand Beef Burgers nationwide (CFIA Recalls)
  • Mar 2026: Multiple beef products like Viandes Lauzon (CFIA Recalls)
2Safety Stats
  • No illnesses reported (CFIA Recalls)
  • All recalls triggered by CFIA test results (CFIA Recalls)
  • Contaminant: E. coli O157:H7 strain (CFIA Recalls)
3Actions
  • Check the official CFIA recall page for updates
  • Return or discard affected products (official CFIA recall page)
  • Cook ground beef to 71°C (160°F) internal temperature (official CFIA recall page)
4Distribution

Here is the summary of facts from the CFIA recall pages and verified news coverage.

Field Value
Agency Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Main Strain E. coli O157:H7
Illnesses None reported
Trigger CFIA test results
Retailers Costco, Walmart, Safeway

The CFIA monitors the food supply for contamination and acts quickly when test results identify risk — before consumer illness reports come in.

What ground beef is being recalled for E. coli?

The CFIA has issued multiple ground beef recall warnings since late 2025, all targeting products potentially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The two most significant recalls involve a London, Ontario retailer and a nationwide frozen burger product.

Recent CFIA recalls

  • No Name brand Beef Burgers (1.36 kg) — A nationwide recall issued on January 12, 2026, after CFIA testing detected E. coli O157:H7. The product carries UPC 0 60383 37333 7 and has a best-before date of May 2026 (marked as “2026 MA 05” with establishment number EST 112). This recall was subsequently updated to include additional product information, confirming the widespread distribution across Canadian retailers.
  • Certain ground beef from Pistachios — Quality Meats & Groceries — Products packed on October 5 and 6, 2025, including Beef Ground, Beef Hamburger, Beef Sojuk, and Beef Fat. These were sold exclusively from the store located at 1695 Wonderland Rd. N, London, ON. The recall was triggered by test results, and the CFIA is conducting an ongoing food safety investigation that may lead to additional product recalls.

Affected brands and products

  • No Name brand Beef Burgers — 1.36 kg frozen beef burgers with specific UPC and best-before coding
  • Pistachios brand Beef Ground, Beef Hamburger, Beef Sojuk, and Beef Fat — packed October 5–6, 2025
  • Additional products may be added as the CFIA investigation continues
Editor’s note

The CFIA updates recall warnings when new information becomes available. The No Name Beef Burgers recall was updated after its initial January 12 issuance to include additional product details.

Distribution areas

  • No Name Beef Burgers: Distributed across Canada, available at Costco, Walmart, Safeway, and other major retailers
  • Pistachios products: Sold exclusively at 1695 Wonderland Rd. N, London, ON location (recall RA-78389, establishment 16845)

The CFIA verifies that industry removes recalled products from the marketplace, but consumers who may have purchased affected items before the recall was issued should check their home freezers and refrigerators.

How to tell if beef has E. coli?

You cannot detect E. coli contamination by appearance or smell — contaminated food may look and smell completely normal. This makes relying on your senses impossible and makes official recall notifications essential.

Signs of contamination

  • E. coli O157:H7 is invisible and produces no off-odors or discoloration
  • The only reliable method to identify contamination is through laboratory testing, which is why the CFIA conducts routine surveillance
  • Consumers cannot safely assess whether ground beef is contaminated without official notification

CFIA recall checks

  • Visit recalls-rappels.canada.ca for the most current recall listings
  • Search by product type, brand, or date to identify affected items
  • Sign up for CFIA recall notifications to receive alerts directly
  • Check media coverage from sources like Ottawa CityNews for recall announcements

Packaging details

  • For No Name Beef Burgers: Look for UPC 0 60383 37333 7, best-before date “2026 MA 05”, establishment marking “EST 112”
  • For Pistachios products: Check for pack dates of October 5 or 6, 2025 (05/10/25 or 06/10/25)
  • Record lot codes and best-before dates when purchasing ground beef for future reference
The upshot

Since E. coli cannot be detected without laboratory testing, your best protection is registering for CFIA recall alerts and checking the official recalls page whenever you shop for ground beef.

Can you cook out E. coli in beef?

Yes — proper cooking kills E. coli O157:H7. However, the key word is “proper,” and there is no margin for error when dealing with known contamination.

Safe cooking temperatures

  • Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 71°C (160°F) to eliminate E. coli O157:H7
  • Use a digital food thermometer placed in the thickest part of the meat for accurate readings
  • The CFIA advises cooking ground beef thoroughly before consumption, especially for at-risk populations including children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals

Ground beef specifics

  • Unlike whole cuts where contamination may be on the surface, ground beef mixes any surface bacteria throughout the entire product
  • Therefore, ground beef always requires thorough cooking regardless of apparent freshness
  • Even if you previously purchased ground beef and froze it, cooking to the proper temperature remains essential

Prevention tips

  • Never taste raw ground beef while cooking to check doneness
  • Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat foods during preparation
  • Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces thoroughly after handling raw ground beef
  • If you have recalled beef at home, do not cook and eat it — return or discard it instead
Critical warning

Even properly cooked recalled beef carries risk. The safest action is to return or discard any product on recall rather than attempt to cook it safely.

Recent ground beef recalls in Canada?

Multiple ground beef recalls have been issued in Canada since late 2025, with the CFIA actively monitoring the food supply through routine testing and investigation.

2025-2026 alerts

  • October 5–6, 2025: Pistachios — Quality Meats & Groceries (London, ON) recalled Beef Ground, Beef Hamburger, Beef Sojuk, and Beef Fat packed on these dates due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination
  • January 12, 2026: No Name brand Beef Burgers nationwide recall issued after CFIA testing detected the pathogen; recall subsequently updated with additional product information
  • March 2026: Multiple beef products, including Viandes Lauzon Medium Ground Beef, recalled due to E. coli contamination

Ontario specifics

  • Pistachios recall affects only products sold from the London, Ontario location at 1695 Wonderland Rd. N
  • No Name brand recall covers the entire country, including extensive Ontario distribution through major retailers
  • The CFIA has cancelled the Safe Food for Canadians licence of 2658645 Ontario Inc. in 2026 and suspended the licence of Rowe Beef Co. Ltd., indicating enforcement action against non-compliant producers

Meal kit products

  • GoodFood meal kits containing ground beef have been included in recent recall alerts
  • Consumers who received meal kits with recalled beef products should not consume the contents
  • Meal kit companies typically contact subscribers directly when product recalls are issued

For context, April 2026 saw the CFIA issue multiple food recalls but none for E. coli in ground beef — the focus shifted to Listeria contamination in dairy products like Gay Lea cheese (Class 1, highest health risk classification on April 2, 2026) and prepared salads. This demonstrates the CFIA’s ongoing surveillance across multiple food categories simultaneously.

Ground beef food safety after recall

If you discover that ground beef in your possession is subject to a recall, proper handling is essential to protect yourself and others from potential illness.

What to do with recalled beef

  • Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products under any circumstances
  • Seal the product securely in a plastic bag before placing it in the garbage to prevent scavengers from accessing it
  • If the product is still in its original packaging, keep it sealed to identify it as recalled waste
  • Thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces, containers, or utensils that contacted the recalled beef

Return or disposal

  • Return recalled products to the place of purchase for a full refund where possible
  • Many retailers will provide store credit or refund without requiring proof of purchase
  • If you cannot return the product, dispose of it in your household trash — do not compost or feed to animals
  • For large quantities, double-bag the product and place it in an outdoor garbage bin

Reporting issues

  • Contact the CFIA for public enquiries: 1-613-773-2342 or information@inspection.gc.ca
  • If you or someone in your household becomes ill after consuming recalled beef, contact your healthcare provider immediately
  • Report suspected foodborne illness to your local public health authority
  • Document when you purchased the product, when you noticed the recall, and any illness symptoms
Why this matters

The CFIA verifies industry removal of recalled products from the marketplace, but consumer cooperation is critical — unreturned recalled products still in home refrigerators represent ongoing health risks.

Timeline signal

Understanding when these recalls occurred and the broader context of CFIA food safety enforcement helps consumers appreciate the agency’s ongoing surveillance efforts. For more information, see the Sonam Bajwa biografia i 결혼. Sonam Bajwa biografia i 결혼

  • October 5–6, 2025: Pistachios ground beef products packed and subsequently recalled
  • November 6, 2019: Historical CFIA investigation into E. coli O157:H7 in beef and veal from Ryding-Regency Meat Packers Ltd. (Est. 99) concluded with license cancellations — demonstrating the CFIA’s enforcement history
  • January 12, 2026: No Name Beef Burgers recall warning issued by CFIA
  • January 13, 2026: Media coverage from Ottawa CityNews confirmed nationwide scope
  • April 2, 2026: Gay Lea cheese Listeria recall (comparison — non-beef)

The pattern shows CFIA test-based enforcement as the primary trigger for ground beef recalls, with no illnesses reported in any of the 2025-2026 Canadian cases. This contrasts with historical precedent like the 2012 Cargill ground beef recall, which involved Salmonella rather than E. coli.

Bottom line: CFIA test results caught contaminated ground beef before it caused illness. No illnesses reported across any 2025-2026 Canadian recalls. For Canadian consumers: check the official CFIA recall page before you cook, return or discard affected products, and use 71°C as your baseline cooking temperature.

Confirmed facts

  • Recalls triggered by CFIA tests — not consumer complaints or illness reports
  • No reported illnesses linked to any 2025-2026 Canadian ground beef recalls
  • Specific products clearly listed on the official CFIA recalls page with exact UPC codes, dates, and establishment numbers
  • No Name Beef Burgers distributed nationwide; Pistachios products limited to a single London, Ontario store

What’s unclear

  • Exact quantities of product recalled — the CFIA has not published volume figures for Canadian recalls
  • Full list of provinces and specific retail locations for some alerts — particularly the March 2026 Viandes Lauzon recall
  • Whether the ongoing CFIA investigation into Pistachios products has resulted in additional product identifications

“This recall was triggered by test results. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.”

— Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Federal food safety regulator)

“The food recall warning issued on 2026-01-12 has been updated to include additional product information.”

— Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Federal food safety regulator)

The CFIA has also demonstrated willingness to take severe enforcement action in response to food safety violations. In 2026, the agency cancelled the Safe Food for Canadians licence of 2658645 Ontario Inc. and suspended the licence of Rowe Beef Co. Ltd. (Food safety enforcement actions), representing significant consequences for non-compliant operators.

For Canadian consumers, the takeaway is straightforward: register for CFIA recall notifications, check your freezer for affected products, and when in doubt, return or discard. The CFIA’s testing program is functioning as designed — catching contamination before illness occurs — but consumer vigilance remains the final line of defense.

Is there a current E. coli ground beef recall in Canada?

Is there a current E. coli ground beef recall in Canada?

Yes. As of early 2026, the CFIA has active recalls for No Name brand Beef Burgers (nationwide) and products from Pistachios — Quality Meats & Groceries in London, Ontario. Visit recalls-rappels.canada.ca for the most current listings.

How does E. coli contaminate ground beef?

How does E. coli contaminate ground beef?

E. coli O157:H7 typically enters the food supply through cattle intestines during slaughter. When meat is ground, any surface contamination is mixed throughout the product, unlike whole cuts where bacteria remain on the exterior surface only.

What temperature kills E. coli in meat?

What temperature kills E. coli in meat?

Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 71°C (160°F). Use a digital food thermometer placed in the thickest part of the meat. E. coli O157:H7 is destroyed at this temperature.

Where to check for food recalls in Canada?

Where to check for food recalls in Canada?

The official source is recalls-rappels.canada.ca. You can search by product type, brand, or date. Signing up for email notifications ensures you receive alerts immediately when new recalls are issued.

What are symptoms of E. coli infection?

What are symptoms of E. coli infection?

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea (often bloody). Severe cases can lead to seizures, strokes, kidney damage, or death. Young children, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk. Contact a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms after consuming recalled products.