Botulism poisoning strikes New Mexico man
The nationwide recall of canned chili and other meat products appears to have caused another potentially fatal case of botulism. A New Mexico man remains hospitalized in serious condition due to botulism poisoning as health officials attempt to confirm if he ate any of the canned foods which were recalled by Castleberry Foods, Co.
>>INFORMATION: Botulism Canned Food Recall
On July 18, Castleberry issued a recall of canned hot dog chili sauce after reports of botulism surfaced in those eating the products. On July 21, the recall was expanded to include tens of millions of cans, after It was discovered that those made on particular production line at the company’s Georgia plant may not have been heated sufficiently to kill the Clostridium botulinum toxin, which causes botulism.
>>INFORMATION: List of Castleberry Recalls
As of July 22, four confirmed cases of botulism had been reported by the CDC. Two children in Texas and a couple from Indiana were the first identified cases tied to the commercially canned foods. Over the past 30 years, most cases of botulism diagnosed have been linked to home canned foods.
Last week, the California Department of Public Health reported that a 51 year old woman was diagnosed with botulism. The woman consumed one of the recalled Castleberry cans of Kroger Chili with Beans prior to developing her illness in early July. Although she was hospitalized with the paralyzing illness, she is now recovering at home.
If the California botulism case and the man in New Mexico are linked to the Castleberry recall, that will bring the total to 6. However, FDA officials are concerned that the risk of new cases could continue for some time given the two year shelf life for the cans and the lack of public knowledge regarding the recall.
Botulism is a serious and potentially fatal disease which leads to muscle paralysis. It is progressive, often moving from the shoulders and upper arms down through the body. The man in New Mexico with botulism poisoning is nearly completely paralyzed, only able to wiggle his toes. Health officials are only able to communicate with him by interpreting his toe wiggles in response to their questions.
BOTULISM LAWYERS
The food poisoning lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential botulism lawsuits against Castleberry for failing to properly manufacture and inspect the canned foods which have caused serious and potentially fatal injuries. To determine if you, a friend or family member may have a case, request a botulism claim evaluation.
