Restaurants and establishments are being warned not to use or sell Athena Donair Distributors Ltd. Cones because of possible E. coli contamination.

The recall involves raw donair beef loaf cones, bearing the UPC codes 7 75151 88802 8 and the batch number 144. The product may have been sold directly from Edmonton-based Athena Donair Distributors.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has reported that the donair cones may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the same bacteria that caused a massive spinach recall in September. Three people died and 204 people, including one Ottawa woman, became ill after eating the spinach.

E. coli stands for Escherichia coli, bacteria commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans.

Several illnesses have been linked with consumption of the beef, the agency has reported.

Food contaminated with E. coli may not appear to be spoiled but could cause serious and life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and, in extreme cases, seizures and strokes.

For more information, please call the CFIA 1-800-442-2342.

Recall notice