Botulism Outbreak From Canned Goods
Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, has become the basis of a nationwide recall of canned goods such as chili, stew, hot dog sauce, and pet food. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers, stating that more than 90 products from Castleberry’s Food Co. are potentially contaminated with botulism.
Millions of Potentially Contaminated Cans of Food
Four people in Texas and Indiana have been hospitalized after consuming botulism bacteria from Castleberry’s products, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Food safety officials are assuming that the number of infected people will increase, as literally millions of cans of possibly contaminated food have been distributed throughout the 50 states.
The number of infected patients is small, but as Dr. David Acheson, the FDA’s leading food safety expert stated, “Frankly, the fact we have had only four illnesses in this situation has people saying, ‘Well, what is the big deal?’ The deal is this is something that can land you in the ICU, not being able to breathe, for weeks.”
Symptoms of Botulism
The symptoms of botulism poisoning usually begin between six hours and two weeks after someone eats food that contains the toxin. Botulism symptoms include:
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Slurred speech
- Drooping eyelids
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dry mouth
- Muscle weakness that moves down the body, affecting the shoulders first and then the upper arms, lower arms, thighs, and calves
Most seriously, botulism can cause paralysis of the breathing muscles — an affected person can die from being unable to breathe unless mechanical ventilation is available.
Recall of Two Years’ Worth of Production
The recall of Castleberry’s products has been expanded to cover two years’ of production at the Augusta, Georgia facility where the botulism source is suspected. The FDA has postulated that the facility failed to adequately cook some of the products, allowing the botulism bacteria to survive the canning process.
Inside the sealed cans, the bacteria thrive and produce the toxin that causes the symptoms. As Dr. Acheson of the FDA noted, “The longer this stuff stays in the can, the worse it gets.”
Cans Bursting Open
The bacteria also produce gas that can cause a can to burst open — in fact, cans of Castleberry’s products being held in a company warehouse have already begun to explode. The CDC notes that people can be infected with botulism toxin by inhaling it or absorbing it through the eyes or a break in the skin.
The FDA is conducting spot checks around the U.S., and they’re finding that recalled Castleberry’s products continue to be available in many stores. Although large franchise supermarkets have been responding well to the recall, the FDA warns that smaller outlets such as convenience stores, gas stations, and family-run grocery stores may still be stocking the contaminated products.