The April 23rd recall of S&W O Organic Beans for a compromised hermetic seal on the cans has been extended to include more products. The compromised seal can affect the integrity of the can, which can then leak, bloat, or allow bacteria to grow inside the product, which could lead to botulism poisoning. The recalling firm is Faribault Foods. The recalled products were sold in these states: California, Washington, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, Georgia, and Idaho in retail stores. This recall only affects the lot codes listed in a long list at the FDA web site. The lot codes are printed on the bottom of the cans. The distribution date, product name, and can size for the recalled items are also listed at that site. The recalled products include S&W … [Read more...]
S&W O Organic Black Beans Chili Beans Recalled For Possible Botulism
Faribault Foods is voluntarily recalling S&W O Organic Black Beans and O Organic Chili Beans because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin. The cans may have a compromised hermetic seal, which can affect the can integrity and may cause the cans to leak or bloat. This can also allow the growth of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The recall was started after the firm received consumer and customer complaints about the failure of the seal. The problem related to the seal has been corrected, and no other Faribault Foods products are affected. This issue affects only the lot codes listed below. They were all distributed from February 2021 to April 2o21. The recalled products are S&W Organic Black Beans in 15 ounce cans, with lot number Best By JAN 31 … [Read more...]
Kolapore Springs Smoked Trout Recalled For Possible Botulism
North Shore Specialty Foods is recalling Kolapore Springs smoked trout from the marketplace because it could permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can produce the toxin botulism. No illnesses have been reported to the company in connection with the consumption of this product. The recalled products include Kolapore Springs Smoked Trout, sold in variable size packages. The UPC number printed on the label is 6 27987 16383 4. All best before dates are recalled, up to and including 2021 MR 31. Also recalled is Kolapore Springs Smoked Trout, Peppercorn, also sold in variable size packages. The UPC number printed on that product is 6 27987 16383 4. All best before dates up to and including 2021 MR 31 are included in this recall. These products were sold in Ontario at the … [Read more...]
Possible Botulism Treatment Breakthrough Reverses Paralysis
A possible botulism treatment breakthrough that reverses paralysis in mice has been announced by scientists at Boston's Children's Hospital. Botulism food poisoning can be deadly. It is caused by the botulinum toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum spores. The spores grow in a low acid, anaerobic environment (without oxygen) such as in improperly canned foods. A tiny amount of the toxin can kill an adult human being. The spores are found in soil, dust, and in foods such as honey. Early treatment is key in recovery, since once paralysis starts, it cannot be reversed. That is what makes this new treatment so exciting. Min Dong, Ph.D., a researcher in the Boston Children's Hospital Department of Urology and corresponding author of the paper said in a statement, "Currently, there … [Read more...]
Belle Grove Whole Mushrooms Recalled For Possible Botulism
Monaghan Mushrooms Ltd. in Ontario, Canada is recalling Belle Grove Whole Mushrooms for possible botulism contamination. The mushrooms may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with this issue. The recalled product is Belle Grove Whole White Mushrooms sold in 227 gram packages. The UPC number printed on the label is 8 87462 00000 3, and the code on the product is Best Before 15 Jan. The recall was triggered by the company. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may trigger the recall of more food products. If this happens, the public will be notified through updated food recall warnings at the CFIA web site. The government is making sure that the … [Read more...]
Five Botulism Illnesses in Colorado Prompt Warnings and Advice
Five botulism illnesses in Colorado are prompting public health officials to warn the public about potentially hazardous foods and to give advice. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is investigating cases of confirmed or suspected botulism since September. Four of the cases are confirmed and one is still under investigation. The patients are either hospitalized or recovering. Three of the cases were unrelated, since the investigators couldn't find a common food source. The last two confirmed cases were probably the result of an improperly canned shared food made in the same household. Botulism doesn't spread from person to person. People get sick when they eat food, usually canned food that is not properly made, that is contaminated with the toxin. The … [Read more...]
Robert Waite Bottled Beef and Chicken Recalled For Possible Botulism
Robert Waite Bottled Beef and Bottled Chicken is being recalled in Canada because it may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The product has no label. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume these products. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with this problem. These products were sold through classified ads in the Prince Edward Island Newspaper. This warning was triggered by CFIA test results. The government is conducting a food safety investigation and this may lead to the recall of more products. If this happens the real will be posted as a recall warning on the CFIA's web site. The recalled produts include Robert Waite Bottled Beef. It is actually Bottled Beef (no label) made by Robert … [Read more...]
Tips For Avoiding Botulism When Canning Foods at Home
Now that the first frost has occurred, the growing season is over in the upper Midwest. Many people are canning foods from their garden and those items purchased at farmers' markets. But you need to know these tips for avoiding botulism when canning foods at home. Canning means you are enclosing food in an anaerobic environment: there is little to no air inside the jars. When combined with low acid foods, such as asparagus, green beans, beets, corn, potatoes, some kinds of tomatoes, figs, meats, fish, and seafood, this creates the perfect environment for the growth of Clostridium botulinum spores. Like most pathogens and the toxins they produce, botulism toxin will not change the taste, appearance, texture, or aroma of food. And it takes just a tiny amount to cause paralysis and … [Read more...]
Baked Potatoes and Cooked Rice: Why Are They Risky?
Did you know that baked potatoes and cooked rice are potentially risky foods? Those foods seem so innocuous, but they both can cause serious illness if not refrigerated promptly and reheated properly before eating. Both of these foods are called TCS, which stands for time/temperature control for safety. For baked potatoes, the risk is botulism, but only if the potato is cooked and cooled while completely wrapped in aluminum foil. The foil can create a low oxygen environment where the pathogen can grow and produce the toxin. Potatoes are a low acid food, which puts them in the high risk category for botulism poisoning. In fact, a botulism outbreak linked to home canned potato salad served at a church picnic in 2015 sickened 21 people. One woman died. When you cook a baked potato … [Read more...]
How Do You Know If You Have a Botulism Infection?
Botulism is one of the scariest and most lethal foodborne illness infections. The bacteria Clostridium botulinum produces a toxin as it grows. A tiny, tiny amount of that toxin is enough to kill an adult. So how do you know if you have a botulism infection? Most people think that botulism outbreaks are tied to canned food. It's true that the bacterium grows in an anaerobic environment, which means that there is no air in the container that holds the food. But botulism can also grow in honey, which is why babies under the age of 1 should never be given honey. And a deadly botulism outbreak linked to nacho cheese sauce served at Valley Oak and Fuel in Walnut Grove, California in May, 2017 sickened 10 people and killed one person. The bacteria and the toxin do not change how the … [Read more...]
