Risk of Botulism Poisoning from Chili Products
Check your cupboards for these cans and Best By date
July 19, 2007
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning of a national risk to consumers from chili products that may have botulism contamination. Two children in Texas and an Indiana couple who ate these products have reportedly become seriously ill and have been hospitalized. Botulism can be fatal.
Affected units were sold nationally and consumers in all parts of the country are advised to check their cupboards for these labels and to check the “Best By” date on the bottom of the cans if you have them.
Consumers who have any of these products or any foods made with these products should not eat them and throw them away immediately.
List of products from The U.S. Food and Drug Administration:
10 ounce cans of Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030000101)
Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030099533)
Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 1111083942)
Check for "best by" dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009 due to possible botulism contamination. If the "best by" date is missing or unreadable consumers should throw the product out. The "best by dates" can be found on the can lids. UPC is the bar code number which should appear on a product label.
Symptoms of botulism poisoning can begin from 6 hours to 2 weeks after eating food that contains the toxin. Symptoms may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body, affecting the shoulders first then descending to the upper arms, lower arms, thighs, calves, etc. Botulism poisoning can also cause paralysis of the breathing muscles which can result in death unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided.
Individuals who show these symptoms and who may have recently eaten Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, or Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce should seek immediate medical attention.
All of the above products are manufactured by the Castleberry Food Company in Augusta, Georgia.
Castleberry has informed FDA that it is voluntarily recalling all of the potentially contaminated products and is cooperating with FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the states' active investigations into the cause of this contamination and scope of the products' distribution.
FDA will provide updates as more information becomes available. Consumers can call the FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD.
Related Links:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Canned Chili Botulism Outbreak (CDC, July 2007)
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