August 14, 2007
Call Hotline with Questions about Canned Food Recall
The state health department has set up a temporary toll-free hotline to provide information to Montanans about a recent nationwide recall of certain canned foods.
Consumers can call 1-866-505-6064 to get a list of the recalled products, which have been associated with an outbreak of botulism poisoning in several states other than Montana. The products were all canned by Castleberry’s Food Company in Augusta, Georgia.
The recall covers close to 100 products with about two dozen different brand names. Among them are cans of beef stew, chili, hash, gravy, sauces, and beans. A type of dog food is also included in the recall.
Officials with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) said at least some of the products have been sold in Montana. They have been working with food retailers for the past month to get the products removed from store shelves.
“Our concern now is that people may have these cans in their cupboards – at home, in their summer cabins, in their motor homes, or in their emergency food stockpiles,” said Howard Reid, with the Food and Consumer Safety Section of DPHHS. “Botulism poisoning is a serious and potentially deadly illness. We urge people to check the list of products and throw away any they may have.
“So far there have been no cases of botulism related to the recall in Montana,” he added. “We want to keep it that way.”
For a list of recalled products, call the hotline at 1-866-505-6064, visit health.mt.gov or call your local health department. The hotline will be operational through Aug. 24.
