Viking Auction Mart owner says E Coli beef recall smells “fishy”

Viking Auction Mart owner Cliff Grinde says that the recent E.coli outbreak at the Brooks, Alberta XL Foods processing plant could be a political ploy to edge government officials to offer up grant money for the industry leader.

    Over the weekend more cases of E.coli illnesses related to contaminated beef at a meat processing plant in southeast Alberta have been reported across Canada. All those affected by the bacteria have fully recovered or are recovering.

    According to officials with Public Health  the strain O157 of E.coli which was  found at the XL plant has a “genetic fingerprint.”

    They say this particular strain has never been detected prior to the Brooks outbreak.

    Over 1,500 products have been recalled since the outbreak.

    Health officials state that most strains of E. coli are harmless; however, some strains, such as E. coli O157: H7, can make people sick, causing severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Serious complications of an E. coli O157:H7 infection can include kidney failure.

    Grinde said although there is never a good time to have such a devastating blow to the cattle industry, he finds it odd how the problem falls just as the market will hit its peak season.

    “The cattle farmers worked hard and suffered through BSE and the drought. This year was going to be a chance for them to make some money. What we have here is a mini BSE.”

For more see the Oct. 10/12 issue of the Viking Weekly Review