Department Of Consumer Protection Warns Consumers About Castleberry's Nationwide Food Recall, USA

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Public Health
Article Date: 24 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Castleberry's Food Company of Augusta Georgia announced that it is voluntarily recalling ten products nationwide for possible botulism contamination, and Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. is urging Connecticut consumers to immediately discard any of these items they may have. All of the products are manufactured by the Castleberry Food Company in Augusta, Georgia and the company has indicated that these products were distributed in Connecticut.

"Given the nature of botulism, it is important that this information get out to consumers quickly," Commissioner Farrell said. "We are taking a proactive stance, notifying all supermarket chains in the state, and having our Food Safety inspectors out looking for these items in local stores."

Consumers are urged to check their cabinets and refrigerators for these products with "best by" dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009:

-- Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000101)
-- Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030099533)
-- Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 1111083942)
-- Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665830)
-- Cattle Drive Chili with Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001515)
-- Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015360)
-- Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095229)
-- Castleberry's Chili with Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001015)
-- Castleberry's Barbecue Pork, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000402)
-- Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604112)

"Look for the 'best by' date on the top or bottom of the can, and if it falls within that date range, or if the date is missing or unreadable, just throw it out," Farrell said. "Botulism can be fatal. Anyone who may have eaten any of these products in the past two weeks should seek immediate medical attention if they show any symptoms."

Symptoms of botulism poisoning can begin from 6 hours to 2 weeks after eating food that contains the toxin, and 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, and feet. Botulism poisoning can also paralyze breathing muscles, which can result in death unless mechanical ventilation is provided. Two children in Texas and an Indiana couple who ate these products became seriously ill and have been hospitalized.

Consumers are urged not use these products even if they do not look or smell spoiled. Return the item label to the store where the product was bought for a full refund.

Castleberry Food Company is cooperating with all state and federal agencies into the cause of this contamination and scope of distribution. Consumers who spot any of these items in Connecticut stores are encouraged to notify the Department of Consumer Protection at (860) 713-6160. Questions about food safety or about this recall can be made to the FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD, or the Castleberry consumer hotline at 1-888-203-8446.

Department of Consumer Protection, Connecticut

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