Welcome to the Pritzker | Ruohonen Food Safety Blog

Four Bean Salad Recall Due to Botulism Risk

FDA has announced a bean salad recall due to possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism. The manufacturer, Walker's Food Products Company of North Kansas City, Missouri, recalled its 16oz. packages of Four Bean Salad packaged under the Kay’s Gourmet brand name and 5-lb. and 10-lb. containers of Four Bean Salad packaged under the Walker’s Food Products Co. brand name. The containers are round clear plastic packages, which have an expiration date stamped on the bottom surface. The expiration dates subject to recall are 12/23/07 thru 04/5/08.

Walker's Food Products became aware of the problem after being notified by another company they had received beans that had been recalled due to being potentially contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The manufacturer of the beans and FDA are continuing to investigate the source of this problem.

The recalled Four Bean Salad was distributed to distributors in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. It may have been repackaged and sold in retail stores. It may also have been served at restaurants.

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 muscles, abdominal distension, and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

Labels: , ,

New Era Canned Vegetable Recall Expansion

New Era Canning Company, a Michigan firm, has expanded its nationwide recall of canned vegetable products for a third time because of the potential for its foods to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), which can cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.
The affected New Era products are large institutional-sized cans, weighing between six and seven pounds, of various types of beans, blackeye peas, and asparagus.

The potentially contaminated products are marketed under ten different brand names:
  • Classic Sysco
  • Code
  • Frosty Acres Restaurant’s Pride Preferred
  • GFS
  • Kitchen Essentials
  • Monarch Heritage
  • Necco
  • New Era
  • Nugget
  • Reliance Sysco
According to an FDA news release, “processors other than New Era may be packing these brands. Only products packed by New Era are subject to the recall, so individuals must check the lot numbers on the bottom of the cans to determine if the product is affected by the recall.”

A complete list of specific brands, products, and lot codes subject to the New Era recalls can be found at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/newera.html.

If you have any of the recalled canned vegetables, do not eat them. It is even dangerous to touch them. The FDA has provided the following instructions for disposing of the recalled New Era canned vegetables:
When disposing of these products, double-bag the cans in plastic bags. Make sure the bags are tightly closed, then place in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside of the home. Restaurants and institutions should ensure that such products are only placed in locked receptacles that are not accessible to the public.

Any food that may contain the affected products should be disposed of carefully. Even tiny amounts of the C. botulinum toxin can cause serious illness when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the eye or a break in the skin. Skin contact should be avoided as much as possible, and hands should be washed immediately after handling the food.

Labels: , ,

Olivier Olive Oil Dip Recall


Olivier Olive Oil Products, Inc. has recalled Olivier brand Parmesan & Asiago Dip with Garlic & Basil due to possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism. The product was distributed to William-Sonoma retail stores nationwide and to Olivier Napa Valley retail stores located in Truckee and St. Helena, California.

Consumers in possession of Olivier Parmesan & Asiago Dip with Garlic & Basil labeled with the lot numbers listed below should not consume the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled. The affected lot codes are:


  • OPA 34171

  • OPA 23471

  • OAP 17271

  • OAP 17671

  • OAP 36061

  • OAP 36161

  • OPA 33961

The recalled product, Olivier Parmesan & Asiago Dip with Garlic & Basil, is packaged in an 11.76 ounce jar. The lot code information is located on the side of the glass jar where there is no label. To date, there have been no reported illnesses associated with this product.


Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled Olivier Olive Oil dip should watch for symptoms of botulism, including: 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. Botulism can cause serious illness and death.


The California Department of Public Health is warning consumers not to eat any of the recalled Olivier Olive Oil dip. Consumers who have any of the recalled dip should carefully dispose of the dip if no one has eaten any of the dip in the last 10 days. The incubation period for botulism is usually 18-36 hours, but can be as long as 10 days. If someone who has eaten the dip is diagnosed with botulism, the jar of dip will need to be tested for Clostridium botulinum. Please contact our law firm for testing information.


Pritzker Ruohonen, a leading foodborne illness litigation law firm, has a national practice and represents botulism victims throughout the United States. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s free case consultation form.

Labels: , ,


Free Case Consultation





Logos

Firm News

Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America

Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

 

Taste of Chicago

Pritzker | Ruohonen attorney Rich Ruohonen is managing attorney for our Taste of Chicago / Pars Cove Salmonella cases, which involve a Salmonella outbreak with over 180 confirmed cases of Salmonella. Contact Rich Ruohonen regarding these cases at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free).

 

E. coli Wrongful Death Settlement

We have recently settled a number of E. coli cases involving victims of various E. coli outbreaks, including a wrongful death claim.

 

Attorney Rich Ruohonen Has Article Published

Rich Ruohonen's recently published article addresses effective cross examination of the defence neuropsychologist.

Foodborne Outbreaks