The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has suspended the licence of an Alberta meat processing plant at the centre of a massive beef recall.
   
X-L Foods began recalling ground beef earlier this month over concerns about possible E. coli contamination.
   
The recall has since been expanded to more than 250 products.
   
The C-F-I-A has announced that XL Foods won't be able to resume operations until it implements corrective actions required by the agency.
   
It says all products currently at the plant are under C-F-I-A detention and control, and will be released only after being tested for E. coli.
   
The development came hours after the U-S Department of Agriculture extended its public health alert about beef from the company to stores in 30 states.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is defending Canada's food inspection system.
   
Ritz says safety has not been compromised despite the widening E. coli scare involving an Alberta beef plant.
   
He also notes the government has more inspectors on the job than in previous years.
   
Liberal M-P Ralph Goodale says X-L Foods in Brooks, Alberta fell short of proper standards back in August -- well before an E. coli outbreak in early September.
   
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says extensive testing is being done on products that have been impounded by the government and the company has also identified other raw meat products produced on the dates when the suspected E. coli contamination took place.
 

For a complete list of the expanded recall just go to http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/consumer-centre/food-safety-investigations/xl-foods/recalled-products/eng/1347948154750/1347948313776