Ottawa residents who picked up fresh burrata or stracciatella cheese recently may want to double-check what's in the fridge. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a Class 2 recall on August 7, 2026, for several soft, fresh cheese products distributed in Ontario and Quebec after testing turned up generic E. coli contamination.
What's being recalled
The recall covers three brands of fresh stretched-curd cheese:
- Bianca Murgia — Burrantina Pugliese Fresh Stretched Cheese with Cream, sold in 100 g and 125 g packages
- Longo's Curato — Burrata Soft Fresh Cheese, 100 g
- Sapori Coratini — Stracciatella Fresh Filata with a Heart of Cream, 200 g
The CFIA says the products should not be eaten, sold, served or distributed. Anyone who has one of these cheeses at home is advised to throw it out or return it to the store where it was purchased.
Why it matters for Ottawa
Ottawa is squarely inside the recall's distribution zone, which spans Ontario and Quebec — meaning local grocery stores, cheese shops and Italian delis across the city could have carried the affected products. Given Ottawa's proximity to the Quebec border and the steady cross-border grocery traffic between the two provinces, shoppers here are just as likely to have these items in their fridge as anyone in Toronto or Montreal.
Generic E. coli isn't always as severe as the more dangerous strains that make headlines, but it can still cause diarrhea, cramps and fever, particularly in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Fresh, unripened cheeses like burrata and stracciatella are especially vulnerable to contamination because they're not aged long enough to develop natural bacterial defences the way harder cheeses are.
What to do if you bought one
If you've purchased any of the listed products, check the packaging for the brand name and size before you use it. The CFIA recommends:
- Do not consume, use, sell or serve the recalled cheese
- Dispose of it or return it to the point of purchase for a refund
- Clean and sanitize any containers, utensils or surfaces the cheese may have touched
- Watch for symptoms of E. coli illness and see a doctor if you feel unwell after eating any of these products
This is at least the second cheese-related recall in Ontario and Quebec so far in 2026, following an April recall of Halloom and Nabulsi cheese over similar E. coli concerns. Anyone with questions can contact the CFIA at 1-613-773-2342 or information@inspection.gc.ca.
Source: CTV News / Canadian Food Inspection Agency
