Recalled Products Still Being Sold
One child hospitalized in Texas with botulism poisoning is still in critical condition a month after becoming ill. According to the CDC, the child ate Castleberry’s Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original for lunch on June 28. Both the child and a sibling became severely ill and were hospitalized. The child’s sibling was released from the hospital on July 26.
It took over 2 weeks for Castleberry’s to recall the Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce and and other brands of chili sauce. A few days later, on July 21, the recall was expanded to include over 90 products (millions of cans of food), all of which may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism.
Yesterday, Castleberry’s Food and the FDA published an urgent press release because the recalled products are still being sold at some locations. "Our primary focus is making sure that no potentially contaminated products are on grocery shelves, in peoples' homes or in emergency food supplies," said Steve Mavity, SVP Technical Services/Quality Assurance for Castleberry's. "Surveys by our own audit team, as well as those by inspectors from federal, state and local health agencies, confirm that some retail outlets, especially smaller independent and convenience stores, may still have recalled products available for sale. We are renewing our warning not to sell, open, or consume these products."
"Consumers, retailers, restaurants, food pantries and others should reconfirm that all products included in the recall, regardless of best-by date, are immediately disposed of," Mavity said. "Check the product description and can size of products included in the recall and follow disposal instructions communicated by Castleberry's and recommended by governmental agencies. In addition, consumers should notify family members and friends about the recall."
We have provided a page on our website with the list of recalled products and instructions for handling and disposal. Please send our page entitled “Botulism Poisoning Recall and Instructions for Disposal” to family and friends. Indiana health officials are investigating one case where a man became ill after consuming a recalled product on Sunday--several days after the recall of the product.