Health officials are warning people not to eat some frozen burger patties sold at Safeway stores in B.C. and elsewhere in Canada because they may be tainted with E. coli bacteria.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued an alert about several Safeway brand hamburger patties produced at Cardinal Meat Specialists in Brampton, Ontario.

The potentially contaminated meat includes Gourmet Meat Shoppe Big and Juicy Burgers and the Gourmet Meat Shoppe Prime Rib Burgers. Also affected are Butcher's Cut Pure Beef Patties sold in packages of 10, 20 and 40.

The frozen burger patties were sold at Safeway stores throughout Alberta and Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, B.C. and the Northwest Territories. All have a best before date of Aug. 14.

The CFIA says the recall is related to an ongoing outbreak investigation, and health officials are holding a news conference later this morning to provide more information.

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning may include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis.

Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die, according to the agency.

E. coli bacteria found at the XL meat processing plant in Brooks, Alta., last September sparked a massive recall and was the cause of at least five confirmed cases of E. coli poisoning in Canada.

The company recalled thousands of products from stores in every province and territory, 40 states in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The head of XL Foods apologized to those who were sickened by eating tainted meat and vowed to make sure it doesn't happen again.

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