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Everlasting Distributors, Inc. of Bayonne, NJ, is recalling its Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban 8oz. packaged frozen products because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which produces a life threatening neurotoxin and can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban was distributed in New York and New Jersey areas and it reached consumers through retail stores.

Blue Ocean Indian Sardine Tamban comes in an uncoded white styropor foam tray and vacuum packed with a clear plastic bag.

The potential for contamination was noted after routing testing.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Consumers who have purchased the Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban 8oz. frozen product are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Everlasting Distributors, Inc. at (201) 823-0800.

Source

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers about the risk of botulism food poisoning from Hot Dog Chilli Sauce Marketed under a Variety of Brand Names.

In particular are 10 ounce cans of Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chilli Sauce (UPC 3030000101), Austex Hot Dog Chilli Sauce (UPC 3030099533), and Kroger Hot Dog Chilli Sauce (UPC 1111083942) with “best by” dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009 due to possible contamination with clostridium botulinum.

Consumers who have any of these products or any foods made with these products should throw them away immediately. If the “best by” date is missing or unreadable consumers should throw the product out.

Two children in Texas and an Indiana couple who ate these products became seriously ill and have been hospitalized with the toxin.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning can begin from 6 hours to 2 weeks after eating food that contains the toxin. Symptoms may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, 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 Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chilli Sauce, Austex Hot Dog Chilli Sauce, or Kroger Hot Dog Chilli Sauce should seek immediate medical attention.

All of the above products are manufactured by the Castleberry Food Company in Augusta, Georgia.

Castleberry has informed FDA that it is voluntarily recalling all of the potentially contaminated products and is cooperating with FDA, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the states’ active investigations into the cause of this contamination and scope of the products’ distribution.

Castleberry is also voluntarily recalling a number of products that are not under FDA’s regulatory authority.

For a list of these products, visit: www.castleberrys.com/news_productrecall.asp.

FDA will provide updates as more information becomes available. Consumers can call the FDA at 1-888-723-3366.

Castleberry recommends consumers with any questions or concerns about this recall should go to Castleberry’s website (www.castleberrys.com) or call Castleberry’s consumer hotline at 1-888-203-8446.

The list has also been expanding and can be found here