Some frozen beef burgers sold by Canada Safeway Ltd. are being recalled because they may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials say an investigation was launched after two people in Manitoba and Ontario got sick.

The recall includes the Gourmet Meat Shoppe Big & Juicy Burger and the Gourmet Meat Shoppe Prime Rib Burger with a best before date of Aug. 14, 2013.

Also affected are Butcher's Cut Pure Beef Patties sold in packages of 10, 20 and 40, which also have a best before date of Aug. 14.

CFIA and Canada Safeway say the products were distributed in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

Linked to plant in Ontario

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the meat has been linked back to Cardinal Meat Specialists, a plant in Ontario. Cardinal operates a plant in Brampton, Ont.

CFIA spokesman Paul Mayers said at a press conference in Ottawa Wednesday morning that the investigation may expand.

"Cardinal Meat Specialists is one of the largest producers of frozen burger patties in Canada, sourcing ingredients from a variety of other suppliers," he said. "Therefore, its involvement in a recall of frozen burgers does not necessarily signal a problem in the Cardinal Meat Specialists facility itself."

Mayers says there is no link currently to the southern Alberta plant formerly known as XL Foods, which was the source of the largest recall of beef in Canadian history. The plant located in Brooks is now owned by Brazil-based company JBS.

CFIA says testing for E. coli O157:H7 will continue to see if any other products may be affected.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled, but it is potentially deadly. Health officials say it can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.

With files from CBC News