July 23, 2007
Recalled Canned Foods Linked to Botulism
State health officials are warning Montana residents to check their shelves to see if they own canned foods linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning in other states.
Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal food-borne illness, according to Todd Damrow, state epidemiologist with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
About 90 types of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash, dog food. and other canned meat products have been recalled since mid-July. The products were manufactured by Castleberry’s Food Company in Augusta, Georgia, and were sold under a variety of brand names. The products were distributed in all 50 states, including Montana.
A list of the recalled products can be found at the following websites:
Anyone who finds recalled products should throw them away, even if they don’t look or smell spoiled. Health officials recommend that people double-bag the products in plastic and tightly close the bags. Then place the bags in a trash receptacle outside the home. Do not put the products in with trash intended for recycling.
Consumers with questions about the recall can call the Castleberry’s toll-free consumer hotline at 888-203-8446. More information about the recall and botulism poisoning is also available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Two people in Texas and two in Indiana remain seriously ill and hospitalized with botulism poisoning associated with eating Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce.
Anyone with symptoms of botulism poisoning who has eaten any of the recalled products should contact a doctor immediately. Symptoms include recent onset of double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or muscle weakness.
If untreated, botulism poisoning may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours after consumption or as late as 10 days after. Health-care providers evaluating individuals with signs of botulism should contact the state health department.
Staff of the DPHHS Food and Consumer Safety Section have been working closely with Montana food retailers and with the FDA to remove the recalled products from store shelves.
“Our biggest concern at this point is that people may already have the products on their shelves at home and not be aware of the potential danger,” Damrow said.
These products have been recalled to protect the public. Anyone who sees recalled products on store shelves is encouraged to notify the store manager, as well as the state or local health department.
For more information, call the DPHHS Food and Consumer Safety Section at 406-444-5306 or 406-444-2823.
