OTTAWA — The Public Health Agency of Canada is investigating 21 cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses with nine in British Columbia, nine in Alberta and one each in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec.
“Certain contaminated cheese products manufactured by Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm in Salmon Arm, B.C., have been identified as the source of the illnesses. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a Health Hazard Alert warning the public not to consume the affected product. Should additional products be recalled as part of the ongoing food-safety investigation, the CFIA will immediately inform the public,” reads a statement on The Public Health Agency of Canada’s website.
The affected individuals became sick between mid-July and early September; one person in B.C. has died from the infection. All other affected individuals have recovered or are recovering.
The cheese farm at the centre of the investigation has issued a statement via its official Facebook page, apologizing for the illnesses associated with its cheese products.
