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Botulism Scare Prompts Chili Sauce Recall

July 18, 2007

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Another food contamination incident has forced the recall of a food product. This time, it’s hot dog chili sauce that may be tainted with bacteria that causes botulism, which can be fatal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says at least four people in two states have been hospitalized after eating the contaminated sauce, packaged in 10 ounce cans and sold under three brand names.

The FDA is recalling 10 ounce cans of Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030000101), Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030099533), and Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 1111083942) with “best by” dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009. The “best by dates” can be found on the can lids.

Consumers who have any of these products or any foods made with these products should throw them away immediately, the agency said. If the “best by” date is missing or unreadable consumers should throw the product out.

The FDA says two children in Texas and an Indiana couple who ate these products became seriously ill and have been hospitalized.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning can begin from 6 hours to 2 weeks after eating food that contains the toxin. Symptoms may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, 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 cause paralysis of the breathing muscles which can result in death unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided.

Individuals who show these symptoms and who may have recently eaten Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, or Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce should seek immediate medical attention.

All of the affected products are manufactured by the Castleberry Food Company in Augusta, Georgia.

Castleberry has informed FDA that it is voluntarily recalling all of the potentially contaminated products and is cooperating with FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the states’ active investigations into the cause of this contamination and scope of the products’ distribution.

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