In 2022 the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) collaborated with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157 infections involving 2 provinces: Alberta and Saskatchewan. Investigation findings identified exposure to Hankook (Korean characters only) brand Original Kimchi as the source of the outbreak.

In total, 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of E.coli O157 illness were linked to this outbreak in the following provinces: Alberta (13) and Saskatchewan (1).

Individuals became sick between early December 2021 and early January 2022. No deaths or hospitalizations were reported. Individuals who became ill were between 0 and 61 years of age. The majority of cases (64%) were female.

The CFIA issued food recall warnings on January 28, 2022 and February 6, 2022 for Hankook (Korean characters only) brand Original Kimchi. The recalled products were distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba