It's likely more meat products will be pulled from store
shelves in the coming days as food safety officials continue probing
an E-coli scare at an Alberta packing plant.
   
A recall was issued yesterday for ``whole muscle cuts'' of beef
from XL Foods, including steaks and roasts.
   
That's on top of the long list of previously recalled ground beef
products.
   
The outlets named in the agency's latest release include
Wal-Mart, Food Basics, Metro, Co-op stores and Steakhouse Angus
Select
   
In Quebec, Marche Richelieu, Marches AMI, Metro, Metro F, Metro
Plus, Metro Plus F and Super C are now on the list as well.
   
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is defending its decision to
wait three weeks to shut down the plant south of Calgary.
   
CFIA officials say when routine tests detected an E-coli
problem on September 4th, there was nothing to indicate that tainted
meat had reached consumers.
   
CFIA spokesman Brian Evans says further information six days
later triggered an in-depth review that led to the plant's operating
licence being suspended this week.
   
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association is now saying it's possible
the XL plant could be cleared to resume operating by next week.
   
The plant processes just over a third of all the beef slaughtered
in Canada.

For more information on the recalled products, go to CFIA's website.

(The Canadian Press)