BS: Another Food Recall: US and Canada

Subject: BS: Another Food Recall: US and Canada
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 06:25 PM

There has been some publicity about botulism contaminated food products being recalled; but apparently authorities are having some difficulty getting compliance, mostly from a large number of smaller sellers, in getting the stuff off the shelves.

Recalled cans still for sale in stores

[Quoting:]

A week later, word hasn't reached all outlets selling possibly tainted foods

The Associated Press
Updated: 2:27 p.m. CT July 27, 2007

WASHINGTON - Stores nationwide are continuing to sell recalled canned chili, stew, hash and other foods potentially contaminated with poisonous bacteria even after repeated warnings the products could kill.

Thousands of cans are being removed from store shelves as quickly as investigators find them, more than a week after Castleberry's Food Co. began recalling more than 90 potentially contaminated products over fears of botulism contamination.

The recall now covers two years' production at the company's Augusta, Ga., plant — a tally that spirals into the tens of millions of cans.
Spot checks by the Food and Drug Administration and state officials continue to turn up recalled products for sale in convenience stores, gas stations and family run groceries, from Florida to Alaska. The FDA alone has found them in roughly 250 of the more than 3,700 stores visited in nationwide checks, according to figures the agency provided to The Associated Press.

[End quote - more at the link]

The recall affects food distributed in the US and Canada. (A few dog foods are also included.)

A current list of recalled products is at: Recall List

Since it's a toxin produced by the botulin that produces the harmful effects, rather than the organism itself, cooking may kill the organism responsible but does NOT destroy the toxin. Food contaminated in this way cannot be rendered safe. There is some brief description of symptoms and effects at the first link.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Another Food Recall: US and Canada
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 06:39 PM

Don't buy bulging cans. Of anything.
Some of the cans are now starting to actually explode too. Scary, since it can also be an air borne bacterium.

Subject: RE: BS: Another Food Recall: US and Canada
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 08:05 PM

Castleberry's Beef Stew was on sale this week at Hannaford's. I saw it on the shelf. NAsty stuff. Half a step above cat food.
m

Subject: RE: BS: Another Food Recall: US and Canada
From: artbrooks
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 12:50 AM

It was on the shelf when we shopped yesterday. I reported it to the manager and he immediately removed it...he said he'd seen the report and thought it was already gone.

Subject: RE: BS: Another Food Recall: US and Canada
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 01:22 AM

The producer in this case is taking (my impression) a marginally cooperative attitude, with attempts to restrict the recall to specific lots and attempting to imply that other lots may be okay.

The article at the first link indicates that the entire production for the past two years from one plant is suspect.

There seems to be a "difference of opinion."

The recall list at the second link, first post, includes a number of items sold under "house brands," so just avoiding "Castleberry's" isn't quite enough to be really sure.

It's implied that the main locations where the recalled stuff seems not to have been removed are predominately small outlets like "convenience shops," perhaps truck stops, and/or "mom and pop" groceries. Many of these places don't stock consistent brand lines, but will include stock from various sources whenever there's a "bargain" offered by distributors. Since they may purchase in small lots and may not be "regular customers" of a distributor the records for tracking what's out there may be sparse and/or incomplete.

A bulging or leaking can is an almost certain indication of botulin growth, but the stuff can be deadly long before the can shows external signs. A can that "spits" or "hisses" when first punched with a can opener may be suspect - if such behavior isn't normal for the product contained.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Another Food Recall: US and Canada
From: Kampervan
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 07:51 AM

I wouldn't dream of recommending that anyone ate food contaminated with Cl. bot. but, on a point of fact, the toxin is very heat labile and is readily destroyed by heating.

The toxin is normally only a problem when it ocurs in canned or bottled food which is eaten cold e.g. corned beef.