Georgia's Castleberry Expands Botulism Recall
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July is the month for barbeques and hotdogs.
It's perhaps the worst month for a company to have a suspected botulism outbreak in its hot dog chili sauce.
Now the FDA is asking consumers to throw away more than 90 different products from Castleberry Foods of Augusta, Georgia, from chili sauce to dog food.
Botulism poisoning is serious and can be fatal. So far two people in Texas and two in Indiana are hospitalized with botulinum poisoning and seriously ill after eating the hot dog chili sauce. Symptoms can begin as early as six hours and as late as 2 weeks after eating tainted food. No animals have been affected to date.
Symptoms may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, 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 one of the Castleberry's products currently under recall should seek immediate medical attention.
The expanding recall by the FDA now includes the Natural Balance brand of dog food.
Castleberry's Food Co. is in a rough section of Augusta but it's become a magnet for jobs and given the impoverished community a sense of hope.
Now the plant has been temporarily shut down and civic leaders fear without decent pay and an easy walk, many who live in modest homes nearby might not be able to make it.
The civic center, converted from old crack houses, has always depended on Castleberry to donate to the food pantry to take care of the impoverished says its director.
"I'm hoping they don't close. I'm nervous about it. We depend on them for so much," she said. "Do you know what an empty Castleberry's would do to this community?"
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For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.