Questions and Answers Relating to Botulism and Chili Sauce
The CDC has provided the following questions and answers related to the botulism outbreak associated with canned chili sauce:
Did people get botulism from eating chili sauce?
Yes. As of July 20, 2007, four cases of botulism have been reported to the CDC from Indiana (2 cases) and Texas (2 cases). All four persons were reported to have consumed Castleberry’s brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce the day before the illness began. This is the only food identified in common among the four patients, so it is the most likely food vehicle. In addition, botulinum toxin was identified in leftover chili sauce collected from a patient's home.
Which brands of chili sauce have been linked to illness?
Why have brands other than the ones known to have caused illness been recalled?
- Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000101)
- Castleberry’s Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030099533)
All the recalled brands were canned in the same plant. There is concern that other products manufactured at the same time and on the same equipment could be contaminated. None of the recalled products should be consumed.
How did botulinum toxin get into chili sauce?
We do not yet know. OutbreakNet (the network of epidemiologists and other public health officials, facilitated by CDC, who investigate outbreaks of foodborne, waterborne, and other enteric illnesses nationwide) officials at CDC and in state and local health departments, FDA, USDA-FSIS and the marketing and manufacturing companies are working collaboratively to learn more about production of Castleberry’s brands products, as well as products manufactured by Castleberry Food Company and distributed under several other brand names, to determine how these products may have been contaminated.
I ate a recalled product. What should I do?
If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. These include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.
If your physician suspects botulism, he or she should contact local or state health officials, who may collect any leftover product and cans.
I ate chili sauce, chili, corned beef hash, or barbecue pork from a can in the past 2 weeks, but I don’t know the brand. What should I do?
If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. These include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.
I ate the recalled chili sauce, chili, corned beef hash, or barbecue pork more than 2 weeks ago. What should I do?
If you have no signs or symptoms of botulism, you are very unlikely to develop botulism. You do not need to do anything.
I ate chili sauce, chili, corned beef hash, or barbecue pork from a can more than 2 weeks ago, but I don’t know the brand. What should I do?
If you have no signs or symptoms of botulism, you are very unlikely to develop botulism. You do not need to do anything.
I ate a recalled product in the past two weeks. I do not have any signs or symptoms of botulism. Can I do anything to avoid getting botulism?
No intervention is available to prevent botulism. Treatment is only given to persons who show signs or symptoms of botulism. If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. These include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.
I ate a recalled product in the past two weeks, but do not have any signs or symptoms of botulism. Can I get tested to see if I have botulism?
No. There is no screening test for botulism. Testing is only performed on persons with signs or symptoms of botulism. . If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. These include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.
I ate a recalled product in the past two weeks. Do I need to vomit or take any other action to purge my system?
No. If you have recently eaten the recalled product and do not have signs and symptoms of botulism, you do not need to make yourself vomit or take any other action. Watch for signs or symptoms of botulism for 10 days after you ate the recalled product. If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. These include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.
Will product contaminated with botulinum toxin taste or look different?
Many products contaminated with botulinum toxin do not taste or look any different than normal.
I have an unopened can of one the recalled products. What should I do?
Do not open the can. Place the unopened can in a sealable bag, wrap two plastic bags around it, and tape it tightly. Dispose in household trash out of reach of humans and pets. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes.
I have an open can of one of the recalled products. What should I do?
Wear gloves and eye protection. Put the open can in a sealable bag, wrap two plastic bags around it, and tape it tightly. Dispose in household trash out of reach of humans and pets. Slowly remove gloves and dispose after use. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes.
I have a container with some of the recalled food, or a food prepared using one of recalled products. What should I do?
Wear gloves and eye protection. If the food is in a disposable container, leave it in the container. Put the container in a sealable bag, wrap two plastic bags around it, and tape it tightly. If the food is in a non-disposable container, put the food from the container into a sealable bag, wrap two plastic bags around it, and tape it tightly. Dispose the taped bags in household trash out of reach of humans and pets. Fill the non-disposable container with a dilute bleach solution (use ¼ cup bleach for every 2 cups of water), and allow to soak for at least 15 minutes. Discard the liquid and wash thoroughly with soap and running water. Slowly remove gloves and dispose after use. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes.
I spilled the recalled product or a food made with the recalled product on my kitchen counter, floor, carpet, or furniture. How do I clean it up safely?
Make a dilute bleach solution (use ¼ cup bleach for every 2 cups of water). Completely cover the spill with the bleach solution. Place a layer of paper towels, 5 to 10 towels thick, on top of the bleach. Let the towels sit for at least 15 minutes, then put the paper towels in the trash. Wipe up any remaining liquid with new paper towels. Clean the area with liquid soap and water to remove the bleach. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes. Be aware that bleach can damage surfaces. Cleaning a surface with soap or any other detergent and water without prior bleach treatment may not remove botulinum toxin.
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