Botulism outbreak results in national food recall, including some Valley shelves

July 24, 2007

By Hannah Guillaume/Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Grocery stores in the Mat-Su Valley are scanning their shelves this week looking for canned meats recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The voluntary recall of about 80 types of canned foods began July 18 after four people in Texas and Indiana were admitted to hospitals for botulism poisoning after eating Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce. Two cases are not confirmed.

Recalled foods include 10-ounce cans of Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce and 15-ounce cans of Best Yet Chili with Beans and Best Yet Corned Beef Hash produced by Castleberry's Food Co. in Augusta, Ga.

Debbie Davis, owner of In & Out grocery store in Palmer, said she found Castleberry's Cattle Drive Chili on her shelves yesterday and pulled the product.

&#8220I had nine cans, and those are sitting here in my office now,” she said.

On Sunday, the FDA expanded the recall to include pet foods.

Botulism poisoning, caused by a bacterium growth, can be fatal. Symptoms can take a few hours or up two weeks to notice and can include blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, constipation and muscle paralysis, according to the FDA. If you experience any of these symptoms or feel ill, call your doctor immediately.

The recall includes dog food made in the Castleberry's plant. Botulism poisoning is rare in humans and is seen only occasionally in dogs, according to the FDA. Yesterday, the recall was expanded to include canned foods irrespective of the &#8220best by” date.

Castleberry's Food Co., which closed its Augusta plant, cited &#8220food processing malfunctions” as a possible cause. The FDA recommends consumers who find the products in their cupboard throw it away immediately by wrapping it twice in tightly sealed plastic bags, putting it in a nonrecyclable trash container and storing it outside.

Matt Graham, manager of Three Bears, said he couldn't confirm if the store's canned food is involved in the recall.

Terry Williams, assistant food manager at a Fred Meyer retailer in the Valley, said her store's products come primarily from West Coast plants.

&#8220It doesn't affect us at all,” he said. &#8220None of those products come to Alaska. That is something we are very on top of. The people in Alaska are totally safe, at least from us.”

Cherie Myers, a director of public and government affairs for Carrs/Safeway grocery stores said Alaska stores are not included in the recall.

&#8220We don't have any of that product,” she said.

Greg Pearson, manager of D&A Shop Rite, said the product was not found on the store's shelves.

&#8220We don't even carry that,” he said, adding that it's worth the hassle - even for shampoo - to get recalled products off the shelf.

Contact Hannah Guillaume at 352-2284 or hannahguillaume@yahoo.com.