The Yellowknife Co-Op removed its free-range lean ground beef products from store shelves following Wednesday's CFIA health alert. (CBC)

A Yellowknife grocery store says it has pulled from its shelves some ground beef that has been recalled because of possible E. coli bacteria contamination.

Range-fed lean ground beef that was sold at the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op was included in a health hazard alert released late Wednesday by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

"They found some E. coli in the chuck portion of the free-range beef. They've recalled it. We removed every piece," Co-op general manager Ben Walker told CBC News on Thursday.

The federal agency's alert applies to range-fed lean ground beef products bought at the Co-op between Feb. 8 and March 10.

Walker said the store has sold about 18 kilograms of the ground beef in question.

"So if you're out there, and it says 'Free range beef' on your package, you can bring it back, and you'll get a free refund of all your product," he said.

The Yellowknife Co-Op was among 21 stores across western Canada listed in the CFIA's health hazard. The other stores are in Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia.

A routine testing of the ground beef revealed the possibility of E. coli contamination, according to the CFIA, which said it has not received any reports to date of anyone getting sick after eating the beef.

Food contaminated with the strain of E. coli (O157:H7) involved may not look or smell spoiled, but consumption of it could cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses, according to the CFIA alert.

Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may also experience seizures or strokes.