There’s an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Canada, product has been recalled, but no one will say how many are sick.

This is due to some bureaucratic division of reporting: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports on recalled food, and it’s up to Health Canada or the Public Health Agency of Canada to report actual illnesses.

Expect to hear from one of those agencies in the next week.

What is known is that CFIA and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume certain Butcher’s Choice Garlic Peppercorn Beef Burgers because this product may be contaminated with E. Coli O157:H7.

The affected product, Butcher’s Choice Garlic Peppercorn Beef Burgers, is sold frozen in 1.13 kg packages bearing UPC 0 60383 89363 7. The affected product bears the code BEST BEFORE 2013 MR 03 EST 752.

This product has been distributed nationally.

This recall is the result of an ongoing investigation into a number of E. coli O157:H7 related illnesses in Canada. The CFIA is currently testing additional products collected from across the country. The recall may be expanded to include other codes or products as test results are received.

How hard would it be to clearly state, this is how many people are sick, and where they are located? Canadian tax dollars at work. And why isn’t megalomart Loblaw putting out its own version? Hiding behind the sheen of government, which is a lousy shield.