Avis Ward

Reports: Botulism Outbreak Associated with Undercooked Cans of Chili Sauce



Posted: Monday, July 23, 2007

by
GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens

Castleberry Food Company’s owner, Bubble Bee Seafoods, has voluntarily expanded their recall to include 80 brands of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash and other meat products, in addition to ten brands it recalled last week. The company took this extra step to ensure public safety, according to their website.

Over the weekend, 16 cans of chili sauce tested positive for the bacteria that causes botulism. So far, four of the cases of botulism have been reported —two from Indiana and two from Texas. The two from Texas were reported as children. All four people were hospitalized and are expected to recover.

Reports say company officials are working closely with the Food and Drug Administration and the department of Agriculture to determine just how widespread the problem is. The company is unable to provide information about what quantity of the products in question are still on store shelves.

Castleberry Food Company has closed its August, Georgia plant to devote all available resources to this investigation. Typically, the food is heated at temperatures high enough to kill spores. It was confirmed however, the botulism occurred in the chili sauce because it was undercooked. The other 80 brands were recalled because they were processed using the same equipment.

Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum . The bacterium may enter the body through wounds or they may live in improperly canned or preserved food. It is a muscle paralyzing disease if left untreated. It can cause paralysis of the arms, breathing muscles and legs. Symptoms such as blurred vision and slurred speech are said to generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food.

The company has also asked consumers to dispose of any questionable goods from Castleberry's in doubled plastic bags. Consumers can get full refunds simply by calling the company. The company is not asking consumers to bring product labels into the grocery store so that they can get a refund.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Castleberry's at 1-888-203-8446. If you are interested in knowing more about botulism, I have included the link below.

A shopper at the market.

Sources: Associated Press and Healthline

2007 by Avis Ward

Avis is founder of El Elyon Outpouring Center, an Empowerment Outreach Ministry emphasizing God’s Unconditional Love and Grace and GeoVi’s Home for New Life, a nonprofit providing faith, hope, and love to teens, pregnant teens and their babies. She's CEO of Providential Coaching, a Christian Life coaching practice teaching young women how-to turn within for divine direction to learn and follow the plan God has for their lives. She's the host and creator of Devoted Housewives in the House of God, an Internet Radio Talk Show. Speaker, Seminar Leader and an Ambassador of Love. Avis respectfully acknowledges her deceased parents as her role models, and the hero and heroine in her life.
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