Yourlawyer.com (Chili Sauce Botulism Poisoning News)

Settlement Reached in Castleberry's Botulism Lawsuit

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

A settlement was just reached in a federal botulism contamination lawsuit filed by Emanuel Cisneros who sued Bumble Bee foods and its subsidiary, Castleberry's, for unspecified damages linked to his children's extended illness. The children, Marissa and Samuel Cisneros, were hospitalized last June and were subsequently included in The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) listing of patients who ate botulism- tainted Austex brand hot dog chili sauce.

Castelberry's denies liability under the settlement agreement, but following the outbreak, Castleberry's recalled a wide variety of products nationwide and closed its Georgia plant. The amount paid to the Cisneros family is confidential.

Last year, the CDC linked Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauces to at least four cases of botulism poisoning in Texas and Indiana. Ultimately, 90 varieties of products and 27 brands of foods manufactured by Castleberry's were so infested with botulism that some cans were actually bursting. In that recall, at least eight cases of botulism were reported and covered two years worth of production on one processing line. Botulism is a rare disease, with fewer than 30 cases reported annually; nearly all botulism cases are related to home canning. The Castleberry's outbreak is the first to be linked to commercial canning in over 40 years. The affected products were produced at the Augusta factory between April 30 and May 22, 2007 on a cooker that had malfunctioned. To guard against the formation of botulism toxin, canned foods are heated during processing to kill the bacteria. The cooker at the Castleberry's factory was dropping cans into cool water while they were still hot. The company says it followed procedures to check the products before they left the factory.

Botulism bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments, which is what is found in a can of food. As the bacteria reproduce inside a can, gasses are emitted and the building pressure of the gas inside the can often causes it to rupture. Clostridium botulinum can grow in canned foods that haven't been properly heated during processing, creating a nerve toxin that causes a severe paralyzing illness that can be fatal if left untreated and is characterized by blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing. If not treated promptly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles and patients can spend months on ventilators until the toxin wears off. Unlike other food borne pathogens, botulism toxins can be absorbed through the skin and even inhaled, which means even people who never ate the contaminated product could be at risk for the deadly illness. Last summer’s concern was—in part—over the potential of cans to rupture releasing toxins into the air.

Meanwhile, earlier last month, the Castleberry's plant was forced to close—again—after a February 27 inspection by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) revealed deviations in some equipment operations on a processing line that was not related to last summer’s recall but that could have resulted in undercooking of the meat. Because under-processing caused the botulism outbreak, the plant's operating permit was suspended.

Last fall, Castleberry's' re-branded its line to American Originals, with a redesigned label.

Castleberry's Food Co. Plant Set to Reopen Soon

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Castleberry's Food Company says it plans to restart its Augusta, Georgia plant sometime this week, following a decision by federal regulators to suspend the plant's operating license earlier this month. The Augusta plant was the same one that had shut down for more than two months last year, after canned foods made there were found to be contaminated with botulism toxin.

In July, Castleberry's initiated a food recall after four cases of botulism poisoning were tied to Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauces. Tests had confirmed that two Texas children and an Indiana couple were suffering from botulism. All four of those victims had eaten one of Castleberry’s hot dog sauces. The recall was later expanded to include 80 types of sauces, beans, stew, chili, hash and pet foods produced at the company’s plant. The Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauce botulism outbreak was the first related to commercially canned foods in more than forty years.

Botulism can cause paralysis and leads to death in about eight percent of cases. Fewer than 30 incidences of the disease are reported each year, and they are almost always linked to home canning. If not treated properly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles. Victims can spend months on ventilators until the botulism toxin is out of their system. The Centers for Disease Control eventually confirmed 8 cases of botulism poisoning related to tainted Castleberry's products, and at least two of those victims have filed lawsuits against the company.

The Castleberry’s botulism contamination was traced to a malfunctioning production line at the company’s Augusta, Georgia plant. To guard against the formation of botulism toxin, canned foods are heated during processing to kill the bacteria. A cooker on the malfunctioning line was dropping cans into cool water before they were ready. The Augusta plant was permitted to reopen in October.

Two weeks ago, the Castleberry's plant was forced to close again, after a February 27 inspection by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) revealed deviations in some equipment operation that could have resulted in undercooking of the meat. Because underprocessing caused the botulism outbreak, the plant's operating permit was suspended.

Senior Vice President Dave Melbourne said in a statement Monday that he was confident the Castleberry's plant would reopen Monday. "We continue to work closely with the FDA and the USDA to reinstate our operating permit at our Augusta plant and hope to resume production early this week based on our current discussions with the agencies," Melbourne said.

Botulism From Tainted Castleberry's Food Company Canned Foods Still a Threat

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Botulism from Castleberry’s Food Company canned foods could still be a threat to consumers.   That’s because the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) still has not been able to account for every item that was included in the recall.   Because there is a chance that some people still have recalled Castleberry’s products in their homes, consumers should check their pantries and dispose of any canned products covered by this summer’s Castleberry’s canned foods recall.

The Castleberry’s Food Company recall was initiated on July 18 after four cases of botulism poisoning were tied to Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauces. Tests had confirmed that two Texas children and an Indiana couple were suffering from botulism. All four of those victims had eaten one of Castleberry’s hot dog sauces. The recall was later expanded to include 80 types of sauces, beans, stew, chili, hash and pet foods produced at the company’s plant.

The FDA continues to warn consumers not to eat any of the recalled products. The recall covered all “best by” dates and UPC codes of the following brands: Austex, Best Yet, Big Y, Black Rock, Bloom, Bryan, Bunker Hill, Castleberry’s, Cattle Drive, Firefighters, Food Club, Food Lion, Gold Star, Great Value, Kroger, Lowes, Meijer, Morton House, Paramount, Piggly Wiggly, Prudence, Southern Home, Steak N. Shake, Thrifty Maid, Triple Bar and Value Time. Castleberry’s also recalled four varieties of Natural Balance Dog Foods.

The Castleberry’s botulism contamination was traced to a malfunctioning production line at the company’s Augusta, Georgia plant.   To guard against the formation of botulism toxin, canned foods are heated during processing to kill the bacteria. A cooker on the malfunctioning line was dropping cans into cool water before they were ready. The Augusta plant was permitted to reopen late last month, but the production line responsible for the botulism-tainted chili sauces will remain closed.

The Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauce botulism outbreak was the first related to commercially canned foods in more than forty years. The disease can cause paralysis and leads to death in about eight percent of cases. Fewer than 30 incidences of the disease are reported each year, and they are almost always linked to home canning. If not treated properly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles. Victims can spend months on ventilators until the botulism toxin is out of their system.

The Castleberry’s botulism outbreak was only one of a string of commercial food poisoning cases to plague the country this year. In February, the FDA ordered a recall of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter after they were tied to an outbreak of Salmonella poisoning. So far, more than 600 cases of illness have been tied to the contaminated peanut butter.   In June, the FDA ordered a recall of Veggie Booty Snack Mix, a popular children’s treat, after more than 100 people became ill with Salmonella poisoning.   And just last week, the Topps Meat Company recalled more than 21 million pounds of E. coli-tainted frozen ground beef patties after they sickened more than 2 dozen people in 8 states. The US Department of Agriculture has ordered the Topps processing plant in New Jersey to cease grinding beef until it corrects poor conditions at the plant that could have allowed the E. coli contamination to occur.

Botulism Death Reported In New Mexico, Possibly Tied to Castleberry's Food Company Recall Earlier This Summer

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Botulism is being blamed for the death of a New Mexico man, prompting health officials to renew warnings about the Castleberry’s Food Company recall of canned foods earlier this summer.   Though there is no way to know for sure if one of the tainted Castleberry’s products was to blame for the man’s death, health officials said that he had eaten some of the recalled food before becoming ill. The 52-year-old man, whose identity is being withheld, was hospitalized with botulism poisoning on July 26, and died about 6 weeks later.

In July, four people in Texas and Indiana became ill after eating Castleberry’s botulism-tainted hot dog chili sauces.    The outbreak ultimately forced Castleberry’s to recall over 90 varieties of canned products manufactured by its Augusta, Georgia plant. The Centers for Disease Control said that all of the individuals had eaten hot dog sauce made by the company.

The Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauce botulism outbreak was the first related to commercially canned foods in more than forty years. The disease can cause paralysis and leads to death in about eight percent of cases. Fewer than 30 incidences of the disease are reported each year, and they are almost always linked to home canning. Symptoms of botulism include blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. If not treated properly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles. Victims can spend months on ventilators until the botulism toxin is out of their system.

The Food & Drug Administration said that the Castleberry’s recall is not yet complete, as many cans of recalled foods have yet to be accounted for.   For weeks after the recall, tainted cans of Castleberry’s foods were still being found store shelves.   For this reason, consumers are being asked to once again check their pantries for any of the recalled items.

The news of the botulism death in New Mexico comes just days after the Castleberry’s factory in Georgia that produced the tainted food was allowed to reopen. The Augusta factory was forced to close on July 21 after it was determined that a malfunctioning production line had produced the botulism-laced chili sauce. To guard against the formation of botulism toxin, canned foods are heated during processing to kill the bacteria. A cooker on the malfunctioning line was dropping cans into cool water before they were ready.

The Castleberry’s botulism outbreak was only one of a string of commercial food poisoning cases to plague the country this year. In February, the FDA ordered a recall of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter after they were tied to an outbreak of Salmonella poisoning. So far, more than 600 cases of illness have been tied to the contaminated peanut butter. The source of the contamination was traced to a ConAgra Foods factory in Sylvester, Georgia. In June, the FDA ordered a recall of Veggie Booty Snack Mix, a popular children’s treat, after more than 100 people became ill with Salmonella poisoning.   And just last week, the Dole Food Company recalled one of its bagged salad mixes for E. coli contamination.

Factory That Made Botulism-Tainted Hot Dog Chili Sauce Reopened by Castleberry's Food Company

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The Castleberry’s Food Company plant that was responsible for an outbreak of botulism poisoning this summer reopened yesterday.   In July, four people in Texas and Indian became ill after eating Castleberry’s botulism-tainted hot dog chili sauces.    The chili sauce botulism outbreak ultimately forced Castleberry’s to recall over 90 varieties of canned products manufactured by its Augusta, Georgia plant.

Castleberry’s Food said that the Food & Drug Administration had told the company that it could reopen the plant.   The Augusta factory was forced to close on July 21 after it was determined that a malfunctioning production line had produced the botulism-laced chili sauce. To guard against the formation of botulism toxin, canned foods are heated during processing to kill the bacteria. A cooker on the malfunctioning line was dropping cans into cool water before they were ready. While 400 Castleberry’s employees were able to report to work yesterday, the company said that the production line responsible for the botulism contamination would remain closed.   The hot dog chili sauce will be produced by a contractor at another plant.

Castleberry’s made news after two children from Texas and an Indiana couple were hospitalized earlier this summer with botulism. The Centers for Disease Control said that all of the individuals had eaten hot dog sauce made by the company. The Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauce botulism outbreak was the first related to commercially canned foods in more than forty years. The disease can cause paralysis and leads to death in about eight percent of cases. Fewer than 30 incidences of the disease are reported each year, and they are almost always linked to home canning. Botulism had become so rare that most people know it only as a wrinkle reducer called Botox.   Symptoms of botulism include blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. If not treated properly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles. Victims can spend months on ventilators until the botulism toxin is out of their system.

The opening of the plant was welcome news for workers.   The Castleberry factory is located in one of Augusta’s more underprivileged neighborhoods, and was one of the few sources of well paying jobs in the community.   There had been some uncertainty early in the shutdown about the plant’s possible reopening.

The Castleberry’s botulism outbreak was only one of a string of commercial food poisoning cases to plague the country this year. In February, the FDA ordered a recall of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter after they were tied to an outbreak of Salmonella poisoning. So far, more than 600 cases of illness have been tied to the contaminated peanut butter. The source of the contamination was traced to a ConAgra Foods factory in Sylvester, Georgia. In June, the FDA ordered a recall of Veggie Booty Snack Mix, a popular children’s treat, after more than 100 people became ill with Salmonella poisoning.   And just this week, the Dole Food Company recalled one of its bagged salad mixes for E. coli contamination.   Ironically, that recall came almost exactly one year after Dole recalled fresh bagged spinach that caused an E. coli outbreak that sickened 200 people and killed three.

Food Poisoning Scandals Erode Consumer Confidence and Food Industry Profits

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Food poisoning scares have made most Americans far less trusting of the US food supply. According to two recent surveys of American attitudes on food safety, recent outbreaks of Salmonella, E. coli and other food borne illnesses tied to peanut butter, snack foods, meat and fresh spinach have raised concerns among consumers that the food they eat might be dangerous. And now, those fears are being reflected in the bottom lines of the country’s largest food producers.

National Pasteurized Eggs surveyed 2,500 Americans about their attitudes regarding food safety and found that 93-percent are more concerned about food borne illness this year than they have been in previous years. Ninety-six percent said that media reports of food poisoning outbreaks had influenced their perceptions of food safety issues. A second study by the Food Marketing Institute found that only 66-percent of American shoppers are confident that the food they buy is safe. Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed said they had stopped buying items that had been linked to food poisoning outbreaks.

These findings are not surprising, considering the number of food poisoning scandals US consumers have endured in the last year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are 76 million cases of food borne illnesses every year in the US, 5,000 of which result in fatalities. In the past year, large scale food poisoning outbreaks have been in the news almost constantly. Last summer, E. coli-tainted fresh spinach sickened more than 200 people and killed three. In February, Con Agra’s Peter Pan and Great Value Peanut Butters left more than 600 people ill with Salmonella poisoning. An outbreak of botulism this summer was traced to contaminated hot dog chili sauces produced by the Castleberry's Food Company. Other outbreaks of both E. coli and Salmonella have been linked to meats, snack mixes, pet food, tomatoes and lettuce. In this light, it’s easy to see why consumers are feeling a little queasy when it comes to their food.

And that lack of confidence is hurting profits at some of the nation’s biggest food producers. ConAgra saw its profits drop substantially after the peanut butter Salmonella debacle. Last week, Proctor & Gamble blamed recalls of its pet foods for low quarterly profits posted by its snacks, coffee and pet care unit. Even companies not implicated in a food poisoning outbreak still suffer because of them. Chiquita Brands, Inc. has said that sales of its Fresh Express bagged salads have yet to recover from last year’s spinach E. coli outbreak because consumers are now less trusting of any bagged greens.

Now, the food industry is scrambling to restore consumer confidence, but it could be a tough sell, as reports of tainted foods make it into the news every day. Just last week, more bagged fresh spinach was recalled after it was found to be contaminated with Salmonella. And an outbreak of E. coli in the Pacific Northwest resulted in the recall of tons of ground beef distributed by Interstate Meats of Oregon. Companies have increased inspections and added to their food safety research budgets, but until the recalls and outbreak stops, these steps will have little effect on consumer confidence.

Botulism Victim in Critical Condition; Castleberrys Food Still Out There

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Two siblings in West Texas have been diagnosed with Botulism poisoning as a result of eating Castleberry’s Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original for lunch on June 28. One of the siblings who ate the Botulism contaminated canned food product is now hospitalized in critical condition. The day after eating the tainted Castleberry’s Chili Sauce the two started to show classic signs of Botulism poisoning, including paralysis on both sides of their bodies and eye troubles.

The two children were both placed on breathing machines after initially being tested at separate hospitals, only to finally end up at the same hospital with the same grim diagnosis -- Botulism poisoning. The original can of contaminated Hot Dog Chili Sauce that the children ate was discarded and could not be located, although an unopened can of the same product was found in the cupboard of their home. Both cans were produced on May 7, 2007 at the Castleberry’s canning plant in Georgia.

Castleberry’s Food Company recalled over 90 varieties of their canned meat products that are possibly contaminated with Botulism. The recalled products include, but are not limited to, Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Corned Beef Hash and Beef Stew. Upwards of 20 million cans are included in the recall covering two years worth of production from the Georgia Castleberry’s plant.

Due to the large volume of canned products involved in the Castleberry’s recall, alerting consumers of the contamination has been slow. Many people still have the cans in their closets and have no idea of the potential for Botulism poisoning they face. Sadly this will only result in more and more people being poisoned and diagnosed with Botulism poisoning.

The Castleberry’s recall is the latest in a series of food product recalls and contaminations that have steadily made headlines this year. Peter Pan & Great Value brand peanut butter was recalled back in February this year after Salmonella contamination was found at the ConAgra plant that makes the peanut butter. ConAgra manufactures both the Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter in a single facility in Sylvester, Georgia. Veggie Booty, a children’s snack food, was also recalled earlier this year for Salmonella contamination after nearly 100 children were reported to have become sick after eating the snack. Also at the Taste of Chicago Food Festival, the Pars Cove Restaurant booth served up a salad tainted with Salmonella resulting in over 700 people contracting food poisoning, many of which were diagnosed with Salmonella poisoning.

As food makers continue to struggle to produce safe products for consumers to eat, more and more people will end up with serious cases of food poising. Unfortunately the result can end up being much more problematic than spending a few days on the toilet -- in many of these cases the end result is death.

Castleberry Botulism Cases Rise as Recall News Slowly Spreads

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Although hot dog chili sauces, stews, dog foods and other products manufactured by Castleberry’s Food Company were recalled for possible botulism contamination nearly two weeks ago, word of the Castleberry recall has been slow to reach many consumers.   A third person in Indiana may be suffering from botulism poisoning as a result of eating a recalled Castleberry’s Food product just this past Sunday. Though the Indiana Department of Health is awaiting test results to confirm if the illness is botulism, officials there are disturbed that the patient ate a recalled product so recently.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conceded that awareness of the Castleberry’s recall has been problematic. Late last week, the FDA reported that tainted products have shown up in stores in several states, including North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Montana, New York and Indiana.   The FDA said that it is making efforts to more effectively disseminate news of the recall, and Castleberry’s has hired a company to assist with the removal of cans from stores.

The recall was initiated on July 18 after four cases of botulism poisoning were tied to Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauces. Test confirmed that two Texas children and an Indiana couple were suffering from botulism, and all of those victims had eaten one of Castleberry’s hot dog sauces. At that time, 10 varieties of the hot dog chili sauce were recalled.   The recall was later expanded to include 80 types of sauces, beans, stew, chili, hash and pet foods produced at the company’s plant. Castleberry’s said that all of the items came from one malfunctioning processing line at its plant in Augusta, Georgia

In recent days, several states have reported cases of possible botulism to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In San Diego, a woman was hospitalized with botulism symptoms for 10 days after eating Castleberry’s chili.   Though tests confirmed that the woman had botulism, the CDC could not say for sure if she contracted the illness from the chili because it had been thrown away before her symptoms appeared. A hospital in Hawaii is also waiting for test results on two men who presented with botulism symptoms after eating recalled chili this past weekend.

The Castleberry’s botulism outbreak is the first to be linked to commercial canning in nearly 40 years. Botulism is a potentially deadly toxin that can lead to paralysis and even death. Symptoms include blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. Botulism can paralyze breathing muscles, and many patients spend months in the hospital while the toxin wears off.

Botulism-Tainted Castleberry's Chili Linked to Illnesses in California, Hawaii

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Chili recalled by Castleberry’s Food may be to blame for several reported cases of botulism poisoning in two states. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that a San Diego woman has been diagnosed with botulism, while two people in Hawaii have exhibited symptoms of the disease. All three victims reported eating a recalled Castleberry’s canned chili product.

The Castleberry’s recall was initiated on July 18 after four cases of botulism poisoning were tied to the company’s hot dog chili sauces. Tests had confirmed that two Texas children and an Indiana couple were suffering from the disease. All four of those victims had eaten one of Castleberry’s hot dog sauces. The recall was later expanded to include 90 types of sauces, beans, stew, chili, hash and pet foods produced at the company’s plant. Castleberry’s said that all of the items came from one malfunctioning processing line at its plant in Augusta, Georgia.

In California, a 51-year-old woman was hospitalized for 10 days with botulism poisoning. She said that she had eaten one of the recalled products, Kroger Chili with Beans, earlier this month. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it can take up to two weeks for botulism symptoms to appear. Because the woman threw away the Chili with Beans prior to becoming sick, health official in California will be unable to determine if the product was, in fact, tainted.

In Hawaii, two men have reported botulism symptoms. On Friday, Keith Regan, 35, checked into the Maui Memorial Medical Center complaining of flu-like symptoms. The hospital told Regan he possibly had a mild case of botulism. Regan told the hospital that he had eaten a can of Cattle Drive Chili on July 20. A day earlier, John Stockton, 33, had also checked into Maui Memorial Medical Center complaining of muscle weakness and facial paralysis. He had also eaten a Castleberry’s chili product. The hospital is awaiting results of tests to confirm whether the men have botulism.

Botulism is an extremely dangerous disease that can lead to paralysis and even death. It is characterized by blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. If not treated promptly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles, and patients can spend months on ventilators waiting for the toxin to wear off.

Late last week, the FDA said that recalled Castleberry’s products were still being found on some store shelves. Because of this, the FDA urged consumers to check their homes for any of the recalled products. If they are found, the cans should be double bagged and placed in a trash container for non-recyclable waste. Anyone with questions about this recall can contact Castleberry’s consumer hotline at 1-800-203-4412 or go online to www.castleberrys.com.

Botulism Causing Castleberrys Recalled Canned Foods to Literally Burst

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Recalled chili sauce, hot dog sauce and other canned meat products manufactured by Castleberry’s Food Company are so infested with botulism that some of them are literally bursting. Word of the botulism laced bursting cans gives last week’s recall of 90 varieties of chili sauce, dog foods and other products a new urgency. That’s because unlike other food borne pathogens, botulism toxins can be absorbed through the skin and even inhaled. That means that even people who never ate the contaminated product could be at risk for the deadly illness.

There is also news that not all grocery stores have gotten word of the recall. The chili sauce as well as upwards of 90 other varieties of canned products produced by Castleberry were recalled over a week ago. So far, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has found recalled Castleberry’s products in about 350 stores. The botulism tainted products have shown up in stores in several states, including Florida, Kentucky, Montana, New York and Indiana. And in North Carolina, officials found 5,500 cans in stores there. Most have been found at gas stations, convenience stores and “mom and pop” groceries. The fact that these cans could rupture while in stores has health official worried, because that could potentially expose thousands of people to deadly botulism bacteria. The FDA is said that it is making efforts to more effectively disseminate news of the recall, and Castleberry’s has hired a company to assist with the removal of cans from stores.

Botulism bacteria love warm, moist environments – exactly the environment found in a can of food. As the bacteria reproduce inside a can, gasses are emitted. The building pressure of the gas inside the can often causes it to rupture. So far, all of the cans that ruptured were ones that were returned to Castleberry’s in the recall, but there is no guarantee that will continue to be the case.

This is the first botulism scare in over 40 years that has been linked to a commercially produced food. So far, four people in Texas and Indiana are confirmed to have contracted botulism from Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauces. The FDA said that a malfunctioning cooker at the company’s Augusta, Georgia plant allowed the contamination to occur.

Botulism is an extremely dangerous disease that can lead to paralysis and even death. It is characterized by blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. If not treated promptly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles, and patients can spend months on ventilators waiting for the toxin to wear off.

Because the cans have the potential to rupture, the FDA is telling anyone who still has recalled products in their pantry to double bag the cans and dispose of them in regular trash. The cans should never be recycled.

Botulism Chili Sauce Recall Expanded; Castleberry Food Company Plant Responsible

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Castleberry’s Food Company expanded its recall of canned food products including hot dog chili sauce that may cause the paralytic infection known as botulism after federal inspectors found that “processing malfunctions” at the company’s packaging plant in Augusta, Georgia had gone unnoticed for longer than was previously thought, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Eighty-five nationally-distributed varieties of canned hot dog chili sauce, beef and Brunswick stew, sausage gravy, chili, barbeque beef and pork, hash, and dog food are now subject to recall, regardless of the “best by” date printed on the cans, because they were packaged at the Castleberry’s facility in Georgia that has been linked to the botulism outbreak.

Castleberry’s originally recalled only the 3 varieties of Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce that were directly associated with the four reported botulism cases, but ramped up the consumer warning after federal inspectors visited its Georgia plant.

“We believe we have isolated the issue to a situation of under-processing on one line of our production facility,” said Steve Mavity, Castelberry’s senior vice president for technical services and quality assurance.

“We have shut down this line altogether and are recalling all products produced on it,” Mavity said in a press release.

One product, Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original, has been directly associated with the four people recently sickened by exposure to the toxic bacteria clostridium botulinum, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration.

A couple in Indiana and two children in Texas who ate the tainted Castleberry’s chili sauce “became seriously ill and have been hospitalized,” the FDA said in a statement last week.

The presence of “botulinum toxin” was detected in “leftover chili sauce from an unlabeled sealable bag collected from a patient’s refrigerator,” the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a press release. That tainted food was identified as the “Original” variety of Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce.

The newly recalled products were distributed across the nation, prompting the FDA to recently expand its campaign to get the canned food off the shelves.

Recalling all the products that potentially were exposed to bacteria that causes botulism could be difficult because of the diverse brand names under which the canned foods were distributed. One recalled product, a canned Castleberry’s “chili with beans” concoction, was distributed nationally under at least 18 brands, including Piggly Wiggly, Thrifty Maid, Southern Home, and Big Y, along with the Castleberry’s label. The four types of canned dog food that were recalled all bear the label of Natural Balance Eatables.

There are typically about 28 cases of food-borne botulism in the United States each year, most often from foods canned at home, according to the web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Symptoms of botulism such as blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness typically appear after 18 to 36 hours after consuming tainted food. The CDC advises that individuals who may have eaten some of the Castleberry’s canned food are “very unlikely to develop botulism” if the symptoms have not appeared for two weeks after consumption.

FDA Calls Hot Dog Chili Sauce Botulism an

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed the recall of Castleberry Food’s chili and hot dog sauce products for botulism contamination an “urgent public health matter”. The recall involves tens of millions of cans of chili sauce, hot dog sauce and covers almost a hundred different names of product. The FDA is appealing to consumers and retailers to find the recalled products and dispose of them immediately.

The recall was initiated on July 18 after four cases of botulism poisoning were tied to Castleberry’s hot dog chili sauces. Last week, tests confirmed that two Texas children and an Indiana couple were suffering from botulism. All four of those victims had eaten one of Castleberry’s hot dog sauces. The recall was later expanded to include 80 types of sauces, beans, stew, chili, hash and pet foods produced at the company’s plant. Castleberry’s said that all of the items came from one malfunctioning processing line at its plant in Augusta, Georgia. The company is working with the FDA to track down its distribution records so the agency can determine were the tainted products finally ended up. The Augusta plant will remain closed until Castleberry’s receives an approval from the FDA to reopen it.

Botulism is an extremely dangerous disease that can lead to paralysis and even death. It is characterized by blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. If not treated promptly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles, and patients can spend months on ventilators waiting for the toxin to wear off.

This is the first botulism scare in over 40 years that has been linked to a commercially produced food. The FDA is telling consumers to check their homes for any of the recalled products. If they are found, the cans should be double bagged and placed in a trash container for non-recyclable waste. Anyone with questions about this recall can contact Castleberry’s consumer hotline at 1-800-203-4412 or go online to www.castleberrys.com.

The Castleberry’s botulism outbreak is only the latest in a string of commercial food poisoning cases to plague the country this year. In February, the FDA ordered a recall of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter after they were tied to an outbreak of Salmonella poisoning. So far, more than 600 cases of illness have been tied to the contaminated peanut butter. The source of the contamination was traced to a ConAgra Foods factory in Sylvester, Georgia. In June, the FDA ordered a recall of Veggie Booty Snack Mix, a popular children’s treat, after more than 50 people became ill with Salmonella poisoning. Robert’s Gourmet American Foods, the Long Island Company that makes the snack, has said that seasonings imported from China were to blame for the contamination, but the FDA is still investigating.

Castleberry's Expands Botulism Recall as Atlanta Woman Hospitalized After Eating Tainted Chili Sauce

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

An Atlanta woman may be the latest victim of a botulism outbreak linked to Castleberry’s Food products. So far, four confirmed cases of the paralyzing disease have been linked to hot dog chili sauces manufactured by the Georgia company. The company recalled chili sauces, along with ten other products last week. This Saturday, Castleberry’s expanded the recall to include 80 more types of its canned meat products and dog foods.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat any of the recalled products. The recall covers all “best by” dates and UPC codes of the following brands: Austex, Best Yet, Big Y, Black Rock, Bloom, Bryan, Bunker Hill, Castleberry’s, Cattle Drive, Firefighters, Food Club, Food Lion, Gold Star, Great Value, Kroger, Lowes, Meijer, Morton House, Paramount, Piggly Wiggly, Prudence, Southern Home, Steak N. Shake, Thrifty Maid, Triple Bar and Value Time. Castleberry’s is also recalling four varieties of Natural Balance Dog Foods.

Karmelia Ituen, a 20-year-old Atlanta woman who was hospitalized this weekend, had eaten Castleberry’s chili sauce prior to becoming ill. Last week, tests confirmed that two Texas children and an Indiana couple were suffering from botulism. All four of those victims had eaten one of Castleberry’s hot dog sauces. This is the first botulism outbreak linked to a commercial product in several decades. The disease is very rare, and the few cases that do occur each year are usually the result of home-canned foods. A spokesman for Castleberry's said that all of the affected products were manufactured on one malfunctioning processing line. Castleberry’s has since shut down that line.

Botulism is an extremely dangerous disease that can lead to paralysis and even death. The disease generally appears between 6 hours and 2 weeks after eating a contaminated food. Symptoms of botulism include blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. Muscle weakness usually appears first in the shoulders, and travels progressively down the body. If not treated properly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles. Victims can spend months on ventilators until the botulism toxin is out of their system. Anyone who ate a recalled product who is now experiencing any of these symptoms needs to seek medical attention immediately.

The FDA is telling consumers who have any of the recalled products in their homes to dispose of them by double bagging the items and placing them in a trash container for non-recyclable waste. Anyone with questions about this recall can contact Castleberry’s consumer hotline at 1-800-203-4412 or go online to www.castleberrys.com.

Castleberry Chili Sauce Recalled as Botulism Leaves Four Hospitalized

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Hot dog chili sauce has been linked to four cases of botulism poisoning in Texas and Indiana. The chili sauce was produced by the Castleberry’s Food Company in Augusta, Georgia. It was sold under the brand names Castleberry’s, Kroger and Austex’s and came in 10 ounce cans.

As a result of the Botulism outbreak, Castleberry’s is recalling 10 varieties of its canned products with “best buy” dates of April 30, 2009 and May 22, 2009. In addition to the chili sauce, those products include corned beef hash under the brand names Morton House, Southern Home and Meijer; chili with beans under the brands Castle Drive and Castleberry’s; as well as Bunker Hill Chili with No Beans and Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to throw away cans of the chili sauce, as well as any food made with the sauce. Castleberry’s products are sold in 23 states.

Two children from Texas and an Indiana couple were hospitalized last month with botulism. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that all of the individuals had eaten the hot dog sauce. The CDC started testing the suspect products on July 11, and received results Monday that pointed to the chili sauce as the culprit in the outbreak.

This is the first outbreak of botulism related to commercially canned foods in more than forty years. The disease can cause paralysis and leads to death in about eight percent of cases. Fewer than 30 incidences of the disease are reported each year, and they are almost always linked to home canning. Botulism has become so rare that most people know it only as a wrinkle reducer called Botox. Symptoms of botulism include blurred vision, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. If not treated properly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles. Victims can spend months on ventilators until the botulism toxin is out of their system.

The recall covers products produced at the Augusta factory between April 30 and May 22 on a cooker that had malfunctioned. To guard against the formation of botulism toxin, canned foods are heated during processing to kill the bacteria. The cooker at the Castleberry factory was dropping cans into cool water while they were still hot. The company says it followed procedures to check the products before they left the factory.

Castleberry’s is owned by Bumble Bee Seafood in San Diego, California. It produces a variety of canned products under a several brand names, and it makes store-brand products for supermarkets like Kroger. Castleberry is offering refunds to anyone who purchased a recalled product.

Castleberry Botulism Chili Sauce Lawyer & Attorneys

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Hot Dog Chili Sauce Recalled for Botulism Poisoning

Castleberry Hot Dog Chili Sauce Linked to Four Cases of Botulism Poisoning
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has linked Castleberry Hot Dog Chili Sauces to at least four cases of botulism poisoning in Texas and Indiana. The CDC said that all four victims ate the chili sauce. The chili sauce is sold in 10 ounce cans under the brand names Castleberry’s, Kroger and Austex’s. Botulism is a rare disease, with fewer than 30 cases reported each year. Nearly all of these cases are related to home canning. The Castleberry outbreak is the first to be linked to commercial canning in more than 40 years.

The affected products were produced at the Augusta factory between April 30 and May 22, 2007 on a cooker that had malfunctioned. To guard against the formation of botulism toxin, canned foods are heated during processing to kill the bacteria. The cooker at the Castleberry factory was dropping cans into cool water while they were still hot. The company says it followed procedures to check the products before they left the factory.

Castleberry Recalls Chili Sauces, Other Products
On July 18, 2007, the Castleberry’s Food Company voluntary recalled a total of 10 products manufactured at the Augusta factory from April 30 through May 22, 2007. The recalled products include Castleberry’s, Kroger and Austex’s Hot Dog Chili Sauces; corned beef hash under the brand names Morton House, Southern Home and Meijer; chili with beans under the brands Castle Drive and Castleberry’s; as well as Bunker Hill Chili with No Beans and Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork. All products have “best-by” dates of April 30, 2009 and May 22, 2009. Consumers have been advised to throw away the affected products, as well as any foods prepared with these items.

Botulism Poisoning Symptoms
Botulism poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms:

Blurred vision,
Drooping eyelids
Muscle weakness
Slurred speech
Difficulty swallowing.

Botulism can cause paralysis and leads to death in about eight percent of cases. If not treated properly, botulism can paralyze breathing muscles, and victims can spend months on hospital ventilators until the botulism toxin is out of their system.
Lawyers Representing Hot Dog Chili Sauce Botulism Victims
Parker Waichman Alonso LLP is currently evaluating cases of botulism poisoning related to the July 18, 2007 Castleberry Hot Dog Chili Sauce recall. If you or a loved one has eaten one of the recalled Castleberry products, contact the lawyers at Parker Waichman Alonso LLP to have your case evaluated for free. Please fill out the form at the right for a free evaluation by a qualified attorney. Alternatively, call our toll-free number: 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).