Botulism Recall Widened

Medically Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD on July 23, 2007 From the WebMD Archives

July 23, 2007 — Botulism risk has spurred the FDA and Castleberry’s Food Co. to widen Castleberry’s canned goods recall.

The recall now includes more than 80 canned goods for people and four products for pets. All of those products are made by Castleberry’s Food Co., but they bear various brand names.

The FDA and Castleberry’s first announced a botulism-related recall on July 18 after four people — two in Texas and two in Indiana — became seriously ill and were hospitalized with botulism poisoning after eating Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce.

As of yesterday, no new human cases of botulism poisoning associated with Castleberry’s products had been reported to the CDC. Castleberry’s is widening the recall as a precaution.

Earlier, the recall only included products with certain “Best By” dates printed on the cans. But now, the recall includes all of the products listed by Castleberry’s, regardless of “Best By” date.

Botulism is a severe form of food poisoning, often fatal if not treated quickly. Botulism is caused by bacterium that produces a toxin, and it is sometimes present in improperly canned or preserved foods. The four recent cases of botulism poisoning were the first in decades that were associated with commercial canned goods.

Botulism Risk: Consumer Advice

People with any of the recalled products or foods made from those products should throw them away immediately, even if the products don’t look or smell spoiled. A full list of recalled products appears at the end of this article

The FDA recommends double bagging the cans in plastic bags, closing the bags tightly, and putting the bags in a trash can for nonrecyclable trash outside the home. Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least two minutes afterward.

Castleberry’s Food Company is located in Augusta, Ga. Its products were in the U.S. and Canada.

For more information, including details about product refunds, contact Castleberry’s consumer information hotline at (888) 203-8446 or (800) 203-4412.

Botulism Poisoning Symptoms in People

Symptoms of botulism poisoning in humans can begin from six hours to 10 days after eating food that contains the botulism 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 paralyze the breathing muscles, which can be fatal unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided.

People who show these symptoms and who may have recently eaten one of the recalled products should seek immediate medical attention.

Botulism Poisoning Symptoms in Pets

At this time, the FDA isn’t aware of pet illnesses associated with these products, but the FDA still recommends discarding those products.

In the past, botulism poisoning has only been seen occasionally in dogs and has not been reported in cats. Ferrets are highly susceptible to botulism.

The incubation period can be two hours to two weeks. In most cases, the symptoms appear after 12-24 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. 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.

Botulism Risk Linked to Processing Problem

Castleberry’s is working with the FDA and CDC to investigate the possible botulism contamination of the recalled products.

“We believe we have isolated the issue to a situation of under-processing on one line of our production facility. As an extra precaution to the recall we announced on Wednesday, we have shut down this line altogether and are recalling all products produced on it,” says Steve Mavity, Castleberry’s senior vice president for technical services and quality assurance, in a Castleberry’s news release.

Full List of Recalled Products

Castleberry’s has recalled the following products for people:

Austex Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030097101)
Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030099533)
Austex Beef Stew, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030090815)
Austex Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030091015)
Austex Chili With Beans, 19-ounce can (UPC 3030092519)
Austex Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030097715)
Austex Chili No Beans, 19-ounce can (UPC 3030097719)
Best Yet Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4217841082)
Best Yet Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 4218740842)
Big Y Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 1889480424)
Big Y Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 1889480225)
Big Y Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 1889480425)
Black Rock Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001715)
Bloom Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 2543992448)
Bryan Hot Dog Chili Sauce With Beef, 10-ounce can (UPC 5340030010)
Bryan Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 5340030110)
Bryan Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 5340030200)
Bryan Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 5340030205)
Bryan Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 5340035264)
Bunker Hill Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 7526604152)
Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 7526604112)
Bunker Hill Spicier Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 7526604224)
Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000101)
Castleberry’s Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030007101)
Castleberry’s Brunswick Stew Chicken & Beef, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030000315)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000402)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork, 14.5-ounce can (UPC 3030000415)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Beef, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000602)
Castleberry’s Beef Stew, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030000815)
Castleberry’s Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030000915)
Castleberry’s Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001015)
Castleberry’s Sausage Gravy, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030005130)
Castleberry’s Creamed Chip Beef Gravy, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030005150)
Castleberry’s Hot Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030007217)
Castleberry’s Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030007701)
Castleberry’s Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030007715)
Castleberry’s Georgia Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030000215)
Cattle Drive Beef Stew, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001530)
Cattle Drive Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001520)
Cattle Drive Chicken Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001525)
Cattle Drive Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001515)
Firefighters Chicken Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 7372500413)
Firefighters Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 737250041)
Firefighters Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 7372500412)
Food Club Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 3680080204)
Food Club Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3680080404)
Food Club Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3680080504)
Food Lion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3582606911)
Goldstar Original Chili, 10-ounce can (UPC 2457500001)
Goldstar Chili, 15-ounce can (UPC 2457500005)
Goldstar Tex-Mex Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 2457500008)
Great Value Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 8113179994) – Canada only
Great Value Hot Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 8113179995) – Canada only
Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 1111083942)
Kroger Beef Stew, 15-ounce can (UPC 1111083928)
Kroger Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 1111083930)
Kroger Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 1111083908)
Lowes Foods Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 4164301092)
Lowes Foods Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4164301094)
Lowes Foods Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 4164301097)
Meijer Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 4125085862)
Meijer Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 4125095220)
Meijer Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 4125095221)
Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4125095229)
Morton House Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526665829)
Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526665830)
Morton House Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526665993)
Paramount Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 7526600510)
Paramount Chili for Hot Dogs, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526600526)
Paramount Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526600731)
Paramount Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526600732)
Piggly Wiggly Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 4129037252)
Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 4129037354)
Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 4129037355)
Piggly Wiggly Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4129037357)
Prudence Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4114100015)
Southern Home Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 3825948713)
Southern Home Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 0788015340)
Southern Home Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 0788015341)
Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 0788015359)
Steak n Shake Chili With Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 5184400120)
Thrifty Maid Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 2114021367)
Thrifty Maid Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (2114021370)
Thrifty Maid Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (2114021375)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030005801)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030005804)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili No Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030005805)
Value Time Beef and Chicken Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 1122542159)

Castleberry’s has also recalled the following products for pets:

Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Irish Stew With Beef, Potatoes & Carrots, 15-ounce can (UPC 2363359860)
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Chinese Take Out With Sauce With Vegetables and Chicken, 15-ounce can (UPC 2363359861)
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs HOBO Chili With Chicken & Pasta,
15-ounce can (UPC 2363359863)
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Southern Style Dumplings With Chicken & Vegetables, 15-ounce can (UPC 2363359862)