The latest in a list of food recalls has left some Maritimers questioning the safety of our food system.
Grocery giant Sobeys has pulled their Compliments brand Super 8 Beef Burgers, which may be contaminated with E. coli, from shelves across the Maritimes and in Ontario, where they have made some people sick.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says there was an outbreak of E. coli at an Ontario food processing facility.
"This recall is the result of an ongoing food safety investigation, initiated as a result of a recent outbreak investigation. There may be recalls of additional products, or best before dates, as the food safety investigation at this facility continues,” says Lisa Murphy of the CFIA.
The agency is also warning people not to eat Original brand Halloween Kiss candies because they may contain harmful pieces of metal.
Some Maritimers say the recalls are unsettling.
“I question everything,” says Moncton resident Melanie Gallant. “I don’t know what to eat. I find myself at the grocery store at the end of the aisles and I don’t have much in my basket.”
“It makes you want to go out and buy like actual farmers food, instead of going out and buying stuff from Sobeys, because it seems like it’s cleaner and you have less chances of E. coli and stuff like that,” says resident Elvis Mallory.
Josiane Arsenault is a nutritionist at an organic health food store. She says recalls like this just confirm what she already knew - that a more local diet is better for your health.
“It is just common sense,” says Arsenault. “I would rather get my meat, give my dollar, so that the farmer gets the whole thing, the money stays in the economy and we are eating healthy, nutritious food that actually fills us up with good stuff.”
The New Brunswick Department of Health says the symptoms occur within three to four days of infection and stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea are most common.
To reduce the odds of being infected, wash hands thoroughly after using the washroom, take food safety precautions and drink only potable water.
With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell
