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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) is warning consumers not to eat 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 due to
possible botulism contamination. Botulism can be fatal. 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. If the "best by" date is missing or unreadable
consumers should throw the product out.
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.
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 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 above 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.
FDA will provide updates as more
information becomes available. Consumers can call the FDA at
1-888-SAFEFOOD.
Castleberry recommends consumers
with any questions or concerns about this recall should contact
Jamie Leicht of Fleishman Hillard at 1-888-203-8446.
[Text copied
from U.S. Food and Drug Administration
news release] |
