HIGH RIVER, Alberta – Cargill Ltd. has increased production at the company's High River, Alberta, and Guelph, Ontario, facilities following the temporary shutdown of Edmonton, Alberta-based XL Foods, Inc.

Mike Martin, a spokesman for the company, said Cargill increased production to ensure adequate supplies were available meet Canadian consumer demand. The bump in production is expected to be a short-term situation.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and are hopeful this disruption to the Canadian beef supply is short term in duration and that XL Foods' Brooks facility is up and running soon,” Martin said.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) temporarily suspended production at the XL Foods plant and recalled more than 400 beef products on concerns of E. coli O157:H7 contamination. CFIA said investigators continue to work with XL Foods to correct the problems, and that the company could re-open in a matter of days.