The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain brands of canned chili sauce because they could get botulism poisoning which can be fatal.
A couple in Indiana and two children in Texas are seriously ill in hospital after eating the affected products. This was confirmed after testing left overs in a refrigerator. They started getting ill between June 29 and July 9.
All of the affected products are made by the Castleberry Food Company in Augusta, Georgia.
According to the manufacturer, they are recalling 10 canned products due to possible contamination. All the products affected have best buy dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009. The ten products are:
| Brand | Product | Can Size | UPC Barcode |
| Austex | Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce | 10oz | 30300 99533 |
| Bunker Hill | Chili no Beans | 10oz | 75266 04112 |
| Castleberry’s | Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce | 10oz | 30300 00101 |
| Castleberry’s | Chili with Beans | 15oz | 30300 01015 |
| Castleberry’s | Barbecue Pork | 10oz | 30300 00402 |
| Cattle Drive | Chili with Beans | 15oz | 30300 01515 |
| Kroger | Hot Dog Chili Sauce | 10oz | 11110 83942 |
| Meijer | Corned Beef Hash | 15oz | 41250 95229 |
| Morton House | Corned Beef Hash | 15oz | 75266 65830 |
| Southern Home | Corned Beef Hash | 15oz | 07880 15360 |
UPC stands for Universal Product Code. It’s the number directly underneath the barcode on the product label. The best buy dates are on the can lids.
If you have bought these products or think you may have any food items or dishes made with these products throw them out, says the FDA. If the best buy date is missing you should still throw the product out.
Botulism is a rare but serious paralysing condition caused by a nerve toxin, botulin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The toxin is extremely strong, just one microgram can kill. Once in the body it shuts down the nerves that control muscles that help you move and breathe.
Symptoms of botulism start from between 6 hours and 2 weeks after ingesting the toxin. They include: double and blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, feeling weak in the muscles, with the feeling moving slowly down the body, affecting first the shoulders, down the arms, thighs, calves, and so on.
Mechanical ventilation is usually applied to help patients breathe when the toxin affects the respiratory nerves.
If you have recently eaten any of these products and you are experiencing these symptoms you should immediately seek medical attention, says the FDA.
Officials from the FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working with the manufacturer to try and locate the source of the contamination.
Consumers can call the FDA on: 1-888-SAFEFOOD.
The manufacturer can be contacted on: 1-888-203-8446.
The four people who are seriously ill are expected to recover.
Written by: Catharine Paddock
Writer: Medical News Today