Botulism risk leads to expanded canned food recall
The canned food recall issued last week for products containing hot dog chili sauce has been expanded to include more than 80 different types of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash and other meat products. The cans may be contaminated with the botulinum toxin, a bacteria which causes botulism.
>>INFORMATION: Canned Food Botulism Risk
The expanded canned food recall includes all cans made on one particular manufacturing line at the Castleberry Food Company’s Augusta, Georgia plant. The entire plant has been shut down and the company has stopped distributing all products. However, concerns exist that some retailers and store owners may not be aware of the recall, so the canned chili, beef stew and hot dog sauces could still be on some shelves.
Company officials have acknowledged that the canned food botulism outbreak was caused by their failure to properly heat the cans. Botulism is an extremely rare disease, which has not been associated with commercially canned foods for nearly 40 years since proper production kills all potential botulism causing bacteria during the heating process. However, manufacturing failures have exposed millions of people to a botulism risk, which could potentially be fatal.
The expanded recall applies to tens of millions of cans which could be branded as Castleberry’s, Bunker Hill, Austex, Big Y, Lowes Foods, Kroger, and Piggly Wiggly (to name only a few). All of the affected canned foods are identified with “Est. 195″ printed on the USDA seal. The Georgia plant produced approximately 240,000 cans every day, and the recalled foods are labeled with a shelf life of two years.
>>INFORMATION: Updated Canned Food Recall List
Tests have confirmed that chili products manufactured by Castleberry Foods contain the botulism bacteria toxin. FDA investigators tested at least 17 cans at the plant which appeared suspicious due to bulges, and 16 of those cans tested positive for botulinium toxin, the bacteria which causes botulism.
Symptoms of botulism include vision problems, slurred speech, muscle weakness and paralysis which starts in the upper body and progressively moves down through the body. In severe cases, paralysis can occur in the respiratory muscles which could lead to death. The bacteria botulinum is so toxic that it could result in paralysis even without eating the contents of the can. Injury can result from simply breathing in the toxin or having it exposed to broken skin.
CANNED FOOD RECALL LAWSUITS
The recall lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential lawsuits against the manufacturer of the recalled cans for individuals who suffered from botulism. If you, a friend or family member suspect you may have a claim, request a free claim evaluation.
