On July 18, 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the risk of botulism poisoning from hot dog chili sauce sold under a variety of brand names. Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, and Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce were among the products identified as possibly contaminated with botulism. Two children in Texas and a couple in Indiana who ate some of these products became seriously ill and were hospitalized. Castleberry is voluntarily recalling all of the potentially contaminated products and is cooperating with the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and states’ active investigations into the cause and scope of this contamination. The recall was expanded on July 21 to include other brand names and some canned dog food. Complete listings of the recalled products can be found on the following web site, http://www.castleberrys.com/news_productrecall.asp.

Botulism is caused by consuming foods contaminated with botulinum toxin, a nerve toxin made by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Signs and symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness can spread symmetrically from the head downward causing paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but can start as early as 6 hours after or as late as 10 days after. Botulism can be fatal. Death results from paralysis of the diaphragm and chest muscles, which stops breathing and causes death from suffocation. The recommended treatment includes the early administration of botulinal antitoxin and intensive supportive care, including mechanically assisted breathing. The incidence of the disease is low but the mortality rate is high if the disease is not treated immediately and properly. There are generally between 10 and 30 outbreaks per year in the US.

These products should be discarded immediately. Cans should not be opened or punctured. Products should be double-bagged in tightly closed plastic bags and disposed in a non-recyclable trash receptacle outside the home. Any food that may be contaminated should be discarded using extreme care. Even a tiny amount of toxin consumed or absorbed through a break in the skin or the eye can cause serious illness. Food that may be contaminated should be placed in a sealable plastic bag, wrapping another plastic bag around the sealable bag, and taped tightly. Rubber or latex gloves should be worn when handling food or containers that may be contaminated and discarded the same way after use. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes when done. Complete instructions for safe disposal can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/botulism/botulism_faq.htm.

References: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01669.html, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap2.html.

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