FDA Expands Its Warning about the Risk of Botulism Poisoning From Certain Castleberry Products

U.S. Food and Drug Administration ^ | July 21, 2007 | FDA News

[Buddy B]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expanding its July 18 warning to consumers. This expansion is for consumers and pet owners regarding canned food products and dog food produced by Castleberry Food Company of Augusta, Ga., due to the risk of botulinum toxin. Castleberry is expanding the recall to include all of the following canned products with all "best by" and code dates, and FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or eat any of the canned products listed in the table below. [See web page]

[Buddy B]

Related: The Associated Press

Castleberry's Food Co. has recalled more than 90 brands of chili sauce, hash and other canned meat products since the Food and Drug Administration released a warning about the suspected source of a botulism outbreak

[RebelTex]

damn - just damn.

So what the hell is safe to eat anymore?
Apparently, the FDA is a joke.

If we can't trust our food supply (and it looks like we can't), then we are in some serious trouble.

This is a direct result of NAFTA, CAFTA, open borders, lax inspection & enforcement, and the 'me first' mindset prevalent in our country today.

From small and large investors demanding more profitability of big corporations so their stocks & dividends have big gains to executives' social & political maneuvering for their personal gain (the hell with the consequences to others).

Capitalism is great when tethered by a strong moral & ethical code and principals, but when those are abandoned, it becomes the law of the jungle dog-eat-dog economic warfare. Both political & corporate leaders have failed us big time.
 

[RebelTex]

This article may be of interest to you. If not, please excuse the ping.

[Smokin' Joe]

Ping for item which may be of interest (botulism in food products/recall)

[Smokin' Joe]

Thanks Rebel Tex!

[snowsislander]

Here's the entire release:

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FDA Home Page | Search FDA Site | FDA A-Z Index | Contact FDA

FDA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2007

Media Inquiries: Kimberly Rawlings Michael Herndon 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA Expands Its Warning about the Risk of Botulism Poisoning From Certain Castleberry Food Products and Dog Food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expanding its July 18 warning to consumers. This expansion is for consumers and pet owners regarding canned food products and dog food produced by Castleberry Food Company of Augusta, Ga., due to the risk of botulinum toxin. Castleberry is expanding the recall to include all of the following canned products with all "best by" and code dates, and FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or eat any of the canned products listed in the table below.

Hot Dog Chili Sauces	SIZE	UPC CODES
Austex Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	30300-97101
Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	30300-99533
Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	30300-00101
Castleberry's Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	30300-07101
Bunker Hill Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	75266-04152
Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	11110-83942
Meijer Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	41250-85862
Food Lion Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	35826-06911
Bloom Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	25439-92448
Thrifty Maid Hot Dog Chili Sauce	10 OZ	21140-21367
Natural Balance Eatables dog food varieties:
Irish Stew with Beef Dog Food	15 OZ	23633-59860
Chinese Take Out with Sauce with Vegetables and Chicken Dog Food	15 OZ	23633-59861
Southern Style Dumplings with Gravy with Chicken and Vegetables Dog Food	15 OZ	23633-59862
Hobo Chili with Chicken Pasta Dog Food	15 OZ	23633-59863

The agency is expanding its warning based in part on FDA test results and information obtained during a joint FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection of the Castleberry’s facility in Augusta, Ga.

Exposure to botulinum toxin can be fatal and two people in Texas and two people in Indiana remain seriously ill and hospitalized with botulism poisoning associated with eating Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce.

While the previous recall and the known illnesses are linked to production dates of April 30 to May 22, 2007, the firm has extended the recall to include all products listed irrespective of "best by" date. The firm is cooperating with FDA in the recall of these products and has ceased processing and distribution.

In addition, Castleberry is recalling other products containing meat, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is also warning the public not to eat certain brands of Castleberry products containing meat. The list of these USDA-regulated products can be viewed at this link to the USDA website: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_033_2007_Release/index.asp

Consumers who have any of these products or any foods made with these products should throw them away immediately. Double bag the cans in plastic bags that are tightly closed then place in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside of the home. Additional instructions for safe disposal can be found at www.cdc.gov/botulism/botulism_faq.htm

Retailers that have any of these products are asked to assure that they are removed from use and do not accidentally get reintroduced for sale, service or donation.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning in humans 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, 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 one of the Castleberry’s products currently under recall should seek immediate medical attention.

The disease has only been seen occasionally in dogs and has not been reported in cats. Ferrets are highly susceptible to botulinum toxin. The incubation period can be 2 hours to 2 weeks; in most cases, the symptoms appear after 12 to 24 hours. Botulism is characterized by progressive motor paralysis. Typical clinical signs may include muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing, chewing and swallowing, visual disturbances and generalized weakness may also occur. Death usually results from paralysis of the respiratory or cardiac muscles. Pet owners who have used these products and whose pets have these symptoms should contact their veterinarian immediately. At this time we are not aware of pet illnesses associated with these products although we recommend that all these products should be discarded.

Castleberry recommends consumers with any questions or concerns about this recall should go to Castleberry’s website (www.castleberrys.com) or call Castleberry’s consumer hotline at 1-800-203-4412 or 1-888-203-8446.

Consumers with questions can call FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD.

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[ovrtaxt]

Can some globalist apologist Freeper please chime in and tell us how GRRRREAT so-called ‘free trade’ is for the US?

[restornu]

You know what these manufactures do is use the same equipment for different kinds of orders and most likely who is to clean these machines don’t do a good job at it so it spreads from one source to another.

That could be why these different brands are contaminated!

[mylife]

I uae austex for my chili dawgs.

Just tossed it all.

Thanks

[mylife]

I uae austex for my chili dawgs.

Just tossed it all.

Thanks

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[mom4kittys]

[mtbopfuyn]

Time to move back to the family farm.

Thankfully, our one and only grocery store doesn’t carry any of those brands.

Wow, the dog food flavors sound yummy!

[mtbopfuyn]

Did I hear correctly that less than 1% of our ffod supply is inspected?

[Caramelgal]

Natural Balance Eatables dog food varieties:
Chinese Take Out with Sauce with Vegetables and Chicken Dog Food
Hobo Chili with Chicken Pasta Dog Food

Is this a joke? Who in their right mind would feed their dog this stuff?

[snowsislander]

Did I hear correctly that less than 1% of our ffod supply is inspected?

Apparently for imported goods it is actually worse than that alone sounds: from what I understand, the FDA doesn't mean by "1%" that literally 1 out of 100 cans imported is checked. Instead, it apparently means that 1 out of 100 product lines is checked annually. There are apparently only 400 or so FDA inspectors all told for the whole United States.

It would be physically impossible for just 400 individuals to check 1% of the billions of dollars worth of food goods imported each year.

[3D-JOY]

This had slipped past me...I am familiar with the brand.

Thanks for the warning.

[RebelTex]

"Did I hear correctly that less than 1% of our food supply is inspected?"

That wouldn't surprise me, but it may be even worse than that. 

Check out snowsislander's post # 16 .

 

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Did I hear correctly that less than 1% of our food supply is inspected?

-

Don’t be silly. It’s all inspected.

By consumers. When some get sick, the production and delivery records are checked, and an official warning is put out for people not to eat that batch.

See how that works? 100% efficient.

[sam_paine]

Can some globalist apologist Freeper please chime in and tell us how GRRRREAT so-called ‘free trade’ is for the US?

AGREED! Shut down ALL TRADE with food companies in GEORGIA.

And Tennesee whiskey. And Oklahoma beef.