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...]
Aqua Okeano Fish Products Recalled in Canada For Possible Botulism
Aqua Okeano fish products and Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets fish products are being recalled in Canada for possible botulism contamination. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. These products were sold in Ontario and Quebec and may have been sold at the retail level nationwide. The recalling company is Fresh 7 Baskets. These products may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum, which produces a deadly toxin. All of these products with best by dates up to and including 2021 AU 23 are recalled. You can see pictures of product packages at the CFIA web site. The recalled Aqua Okeano products are Fish Ball with Cuttlefish in 200 gram packages with UPC number 6 285048 270002; Fried Fish Ball in 200 gram packages with UPC number 6 285048 … [Read more...]
Cielo Glamping Maritime Clams Recalled in Canada For Possible Botulism
Cielo Glamping Maritime clams are being recalled in New Brunswick, Canada because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product. The recalled products were sold from Cielo Glamping Maritime, located at 232 Chemin des Huîtres, in Haut-Shippigan New Brunswick. They are bottled clams, with no label, that were sold in 500 ml and 1 liter glass jars with a metal lid. There is no UPC number on the product. Foods contaminated with the Clostridium botulinum toxin will not look, smell, or taste spoiled, and the texture is not affected. A tiny amount of this toxin can make you very sick and can kill. Symptoms of botulism poisoning in adults can include facial paralysis, loss of expression, … [Read more...]
Lobster and Crab Recalled For Possible Botulism in Canada
Denis Losier is recalling Lobster and Crab, both packed in brine, that were sold in jars with no labels, because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria that can produce the deadly botulinum toxin. These products were sold in New Brunswick and Quebec in Canada. The Lobster in brine and Crab in brine were sold in jars with no labels with no brand name. The recalled products are Lobster in brine sold in 250 ml or 500 ml Mason jars with no UPC number. All units sold up to and including November 13, 2019 are recalled. They were sold at Marché G & D, at 1006 Saint-Laurent Blvd., in Montréal, Quebec and distributed in New Brunswick by Denis Losier, Tracadie in New Brunswick. The recalled Crab in brine also has no brand name and no UPC number. It was also sold 250 … [Read more...]
Mill Stream Cold Smoked Salmon Recalled For Possible Botulism
Ten lots of Mill Stream Cold Smoked Salmon are being recalled because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are told to not eat this product even if it doesn't look or smell spoiled; this pathogen does not affect the taste or texture of food. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. The product's water phase salt (WPS) tested below 3.5%, which permits the growth of the anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum. Laboratory certificates incorrectly reported the WPS levels. In addition, labeling instructions on the salmon state it must be kept refrigerated at or below 38°F and that the product may be frozen. But with a low WPS, any product packaged in oxygen-free … [Read more...]
MF Fishballs Recalled For Possible Botulism Contamination
Mannarich Foods is recalling MF Fishballs from the marketplace in Canada because they may be contaminated with botulism toxin. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. The recalled products were "previously frozen." They were distributed at the retail level in Ontario and Quebec. The recalled products are all MF Fishballs and other seafood products. All units sold up to and including October 21, 2019 are recalled. They include Fishballs (previously frozen) in 180 gram packages. The UPC number on the product is 0 68636 03040 2. Also recalled is Premium cuttle fish balls (previously frozen) in 180 gram packages with UPC number 0 68636 02030 4. Lobster flavored fishballs (previously frozen) in 180 gram packages with UPC number 0 68636 03430 1 … [Read more...]
