Published Date: 2007-07-23 17:00:08
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Botulism, canned food, human, pet - USA: alert, recall
Archive Number: 20070723.2366
BOTULISM, CANNED FOOD, HUMAN, PET - USA: ALERT, RECALL
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[1] "Smoking" can
[2] Markedly expanded recall including dog food
******
[1] "Smoking" can
Date: Mon 23 Jul 2007
Source: Forbes, Associated Press report [edited]
<http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/23/ap3941422.html>
Castleberry's Food Company has closed its production facility in
Augusta, Georgia, after 16 cans of chili sauce tested positive for
botulism over the weekend [21-22 Jul 2007], company officials said
Mon 23 Jul 2007. In addition, the company has hired an outside firm
to visit more than 8500 retailers around the country in an effort to
quickly get recalled products off store shelves.
So far, 4 cases of botulism have been reported -- 2 from Indiana and
2 from Texas. All 4 people consumed Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original, a
product made by Castleberry's.
On Sat 21 Jul 2007, Castleberry's expanded its recall of canned meat
products that may be connected to a botulism outbreak. It recalled
more than 80 types of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash, and
other meat products in addition to the 10 brands it had recalled 19 Jul 2007.
Company officials said they were working closely with the FDA (US
Food & Drug Administration) and the USDA (US Department of
Agriculture) to determine just how widespread the problem is, but
they could not provide information about what quantity of the
products in question are still on store shelves.
"So that we can devote all available resources to this investigation,
we agreed to shut down our entire facility in Augusta. We will not
process any more food there until the FDA and the USDA agree it is
appropriate to reopen," said Dave Melbourne, senior vice president
for Castleberry's. "And, we have stopped all further product
distribution from our centers."
Typically, commercially canned foods are heated long enough and to
high enough temperatures to kill the spores. Melbourne confirmed that
the botulism occurred in the chili sauce because the product was
undercooked. Out of caution, the company decided to recall all other
products produced on that particular production line.
[Byline: Kevin Freking]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[This is the 1st posting of the thread to document a "smoking" can.
That is, the disease agent directly isolated from the implicated
product. - Mod.LL]
******
[2] Markedly expanded recall including dog food
Date: Sat 21 Jul 2007
Source: US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) News [edited]
<http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01670.html>
The FDA is expanding its 18 Jul 2007 warning to consumers. This
expansion is for consumers and pet owners regarding canned food
products and dog food produced by Castleberry Food Company of
Augusta, GA, due to the risk of botulinum toxin. Castleberry is
expanding the recall to include all of the following canned products
with all "best by" and code dates, and FDA is warning consumers not
to purchase or eat any of the canned products listed in the table below.
Hot Dog Chili Sauces / Size / UPC Codes
--------------------------------------
Austex Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 30300-97101
Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 30300-99533
Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 30300-00101
Castleberry's Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 30300-07101
Bunker Hill Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 75266-04152
Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 11110-83942
Meijer Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 41250-85862
Food Lion Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 35826-06911
Bloom Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 25439-92448
Thrifty Maid Hot Dog Chili Sauce / 10-oz / 21140-21367
Natural Balance Eatables dog food varieties
-------------------------------------------
Irish Stew with Beef Dog Food / 15-oz / 23633-59860
Chinese Take Out With Sauce With Vegetables and Chicken Dog Food /
15-oz / 23633-59861
Southern Style Dumplings With Gravy With Chicken and Vegetables Dog
Food / 15-oz / 23633-59862
Hobo Chili With Chicken Pasta Dog Food / 15-oz / 23633-59863
The agency is expanding its warning based in part on FDA test results
and information obtained during a joint FDA and USDA inspection of
the Castleberry's facility in Augusta, GA.
Exposure to botulinum toxin can be fatal and 2 people in Texas and 2
people in Indiana remain seriously ill and hospitalized with botulism
poisoning associated with eating Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce.
While the previous recall and the known illnesses are linked to
production dates of 30 Apr to 22 May 2007, the firm has extended the
recall to include all products listed irrespective of "best by" date.
The firm is cooperating with FDA in the recall of these products and
has ceased processing and distribution.
In addition, Castleberry is recalling other products containing meat,
which are regulated by the USDA. USDA is also warning the public not
to eat certain brands of Castleberry products containing meat. The
list of these USDA-regulated products can be viewed at this link to
the USDA website
<http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_033_2007_expanded/index.asp>.
Consumers who have any of these products or any foods made with these
products should throw them away immediately. Double bag the cans in
plastic bags that are tightly closed then place in a trash receptacle
for non-recyclable trash outside of the home. Additional instructions
for safe disposal can be found at
The disease has only been seen occasionally in dogs and has not been
reported in cats. Ferrets are highly susceptible to botulinum toxin.
The incubation period can be 2 hours to 2 weeks; in most cases, the
symptoms appear after 12 to 24 hours. Botulism is characterized by
progressive motor paralysis. Typical clinical signs may include
muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing, chewing, and swallowing;
visual disturbances and generalized weakness may also occur. Death
usually results from paralysis of the respiratory or cardiac muscles.
Pet owners who have used these products and whose pets have these
symptoms should contact their veterinarian immediately. At this time
we are not aware of pet illnesses associated with these products
although we recommend that all these products be discarded.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The serotype of the botulinum neurotoxin is still not stated. This
moderator is impressed by the number of meat products on the expanded
recall list, and that dog food is produced, apparently, on the same
product assembly line. The unedited list of other recalled food, in
alphabetical order based on the 25 brand names (all produced however
by Castleberry's) follows:
12-pack of 15-oz cans of "Austex Beef Stew."
15- and 19-oz cans of "Austex Chili With Beans."
12-pack of 15-oz cans of "Austex Chili No Beans."
12-pack of 19-oz cans of "Austex Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Best Yet Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Best Yet Corned Beef Hash."
15-oz cans of "Big Y Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Big Y Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Big Y Corned Beef Hash."
15-oz cans of "Black Rock Chili With Beans."
24-pack of 10-oz cans of "Bryan Hot Dog Chili Sauce."
24-pack of 15-oz cans of "Bryan Corned Beef Hash."
24-pack of 10-oz cans of "Bryan Chili No Beans."
24-pack of 15-oz cans of "Bryan Chili No Beans."
24-pack of 15-oz cans of "Bryan Chili With Beans."
10-oz cans of "Bunker Hill Chili No Beans."
10-oz cans of "Bunker Hill Chunky Chili No Beans."
10-oz cans of "Castle Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Castleberry's Beef Stew."
15-oz cans of "Castleberry's Brunswick Stew."
10-oz cans of "Castleberry's Bunker Hill, Original Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Castleberry's Chili With Beans."
12-pack of 15-oz cans of "Castleberry's Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Castleberry's Corned Beef Hash."
10-oz cans of "Castleberry's Hickory Smoked, Oven Roasted, With
Skins, Barbecue Pork in BBQ Sauce."
12-pack of 15-oz cans of "Castleberry's Hot Chili With Beans."
10- and 14.5-oz cans of "Castleberry's BBQ Pork."
10-oz cans of "Castleberry's Sausage Gravy."
10-oz cans of "Castleberry's Chip Beef Gravy."
15-oz cans of "Cattle Drive Beef Stew."
15-oz cans of "Cattle Drive Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Cattle Drive Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Cattle Drive Chili With Beans."
8-pack of 15-oz cans of "Cattle Drive Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Cattle Drive Chicken Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Firefighter Chicken Chili."
15-oz cans of "Firefighter Chicken Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Firefighter Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Firefighter Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Food Club Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Food Club Corned Beef Hash."
15-oz cans of "Georgia Hash."
10- and 15-oz cans of "Goldstar Chili."
15-oz cans of "Goldstar Tex Mex Chili."
15-oz cans of "Great Value Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Great Value Hot Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Kroger Beef Stew."
15-oz cans of "Kroger Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Kroger Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Lowes Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Lowes Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Lowes Corn Beef Hash."
15-oz cans of "Meijer Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Meijer Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Meijer Corned Beef Hash."
12-pack of 15-oz cans of "Morton House Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Morton House Corned Beef Hash."
10- and 15-oz cans of "Paramount Hot Dog Chili Sauce."
15-oz cans of "Paramount Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Paramount Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Piggly Wiggly Chili With Beans."
10- and 15-oz cans of "Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Piggly Wiggly Corned Beef Hash."
12-pack of 15-oz cans of "Prudence Corned Beef Hash."
15-oz cans of "Southern Home Chili With Beans."
10- and 15-oz cans of "Southern Home Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Southern Home Corned Beef Hash."
10-oz cans of "Steak N Shake Chili."
15-oz cans of "Thrifty Maid Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Thrifty Maid Corned Beef Hash."
15-oz cans of "Triple Bar Chili With Beans."
12-pack of 15-oz cans of "Triple Bar Chili With Beans."
15-oz cans of "Triple Bar Chili No Beans."
12-pack of 15-oz cans of "Triple Bar Chili No Beans."
15-oz cans of "Value Time Chili With Beans."
Each can label or can end bears the establishment number "EST.195"
inside the USDA seal of inspection. The canned meat products were
distributed nationwide. - Mod. LL]
See Also
Botulism, chili sauce - USA: alert, recall (02) 20070720.2331Botulism, chili sauce - USA: alert, recall 20070719.2316
Botulism, seafood - Canada (QC): recall 20070609.1889
Botulism, olives - USA ex Italy: recall 20070329.1085
Botulism, smoked uneviscerated fish - USA (NY): recall 20070326.1043
Botulism, olives - Canada ex Italy: recall 20070326.1042
Botulism, olives - USA: recall 20070311.0861
Botulism, olives - USA (FL, GA, NY): recall 20070310.0847
Botulism, baby food - North America: alert, recall (02) 20070220.0636
Botulism, baby food - North America: alert, recall 20070218.0618
2006
----
Botulism, canned uneviscerated fish - USA: recall 20061206.3439
Botulism, olives - Canada (ON) ex Italy: recall 20061205.3430
Botulism, crab cakes - Canada: recall 20061103.3155
Botulism, canned crab - Canada: recall 20061031.3113
Botulism, carrot juice - North America (USA, Canada) (03) 20061021.3026
Botulism, carrot juice - North America (USA, Canada) 20061012.2925
Botulism, carrot juice - Canada (ON) ex USA 20061009.2899
Botulism, carrot juice - USA (multistate) (02) 20061007.2880
Botulism, carrot juice - USA (multistate): FL 20060930.2808
Botulism, carrot juice - USA (GA): alert 20060916.2638
Botulism, gravy, chili sauce - Canada (02): background 20060927.2760
Botulism, gravy, chili sauce - Canada: recall 20060926.2748
Botulinum toxin, laboratory exposure - USA (MA) (02) 20060410.1067
Botulinum toxin, laboratory exposure - USA (MA) 20060408.1058
...................................ll/mj/dk
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