The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat 10 ounce cans of Castleberrys Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030000101), Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030099533), and Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 1111083942) with best by dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009 due to possible botulism contamination. Botulism can be fatal. The best by dates can be found on the can lids.

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.

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 Castleberrys Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, or Kroger Hot Dog Chili 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 Centers 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 numbr of products that are not under FDAs 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 Castleberrys website) or call Castleberrys consumer hotline at 1-888-203-8446.

Submitted by Rob Anderson. Filed under News

Comments

HOW CAN I OBTAIN A REFUND FOR THIS PRODUCT? I HAVE FOUR CANS THAT I PURCHASED LAST YEAR.
MELANIE MORRONEY on February 8th, 2008

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