Chili linked to botulism is pulled from isle stores

Cattle Drive, Best Yet are among the Castleberry's Food Co. brands found locally

Hawaii stores have pulled from their shelves cans of chili recalled over the weekend that might be connected to botulism poisoning.

Cattle Drive chili, one of the recalled products, is sold at several Hawaii stores, a state Health Department spokeswoman said. Costco has removed the cans from shelves.

Foodland, which carries Best Yet chili, another recalled product, has also pulled the cans from shelves.

Castleberry's Food Co. in Augusta, Ga., recalled canned chili, corned beef hash, beef stew and other meat products after four cases of botulism had been reported -- two from Indiana and two from Texas. All four people consumed Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original, a product made by Castleberry's.

FULL STORY »

Castleberry's Food Co. in Augusta, Ga., recalled 88 types of canned chili, corned beef hash, beef stew and other meat products over the weekend that might be connected to botulism poisoning.

One of the recalled products, Cattle Drive chili, is sold at several Hawaii stores, said Janice Okubo, state Department of Health spokeswoman. Costco, which carries the product, said it has removed the cans from its shelves.

Foodland, which carries Best Yet chili, another recalled product, has also pulled the cans from shelves.

Four varieties of canned dog food under the Natural Balance Eatables brand are also on the list of recalled products. For the complete list, consumers can visit Castleberry's Web site at www.castleberrys.com.

So far, there have been no reports of botulism poisoning in Hawaii related to these recalled foods. The Health Department said people should not open or eat products on the list, and should double-bag the cans in plastic bags and toss them out.

Botulinum toxin can be fatal. Symptoms of poisoning can begin from six hours to 10 days after eating the contaminated food and could include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and muscle weakness, officials said. Botulism poisoning can also cause paralysis of breathing muscles. People feeling these symptoms should seek immediate medical treatment.

Castleberry's Food Co. temporarily closed the suspect plant.

"You're talking tens of millions of cans that may have been involved," said Robert Brackett, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

The company has hired an outside firm to visit more than 8,500 retailers around the country in an effort to quickly get recalled products off store shelves.

So far, four cases of botulism have been reported: two from Indiana and two from Texas. All four people consumed Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original, a product made by Castleberry's.

On Saturday, Castleberry's expanded its voluntary recall of canned meat products. It specified more than 80 types of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash and other meat products in addition to the 10 products it had recalled Thursday. The products were sold under various brand names.

Although Castleberry's is recalling everything made on the one manufacturing line, the only products linked to illness thus far are the chili sauces.

Company officials said they were working closely with the FDA and the Department of Agriculture to determine how widespread the problem is. They could not provide information about how many of the recalled products were still on store shelves.

Castleberry's is investigating the cause of contamination. For more information, call Castleberry's hot line at (800) 203-4412, and for current updates, visit www.fda.gov.