Walker’s Food Products and Kay’s Gourmet Bean Salads Recalled for Botulism
February 28th, 2008 amy
Four-bean salads sold under the brand names of Walker’s Food Products Co. and Kay’s Gourmet are being recalled for botulism risk. 16-ounce, 5-pound and 10-pound containers of these four-bean salads with expiration dates of Dec. 23, 2007 through April 5, 2008 could be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The salads were reportedly distributed to stores in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Thus far, no illnesses have been reported.
Although the Associated Press report didn’t specify whether or not the beans in the salads were part of recent massive recalls by the New Era Canning company, this is a recall reminiscent of Kroger’s bean salad recall from the end of January. New Era’s December 21 recall began with a few cans of beans potentially contaminated with botulism and has since expanded to a whole mess of canned veggies. (For the super-long list, see:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/newera.html)
In related news, The Muskegon Chronicle reported Tuesday that New Era, which has been shut down by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since December, is looking to rebound from its recent rash of recalled products. “Obviously, the longer they have us shut down the more financial hardship it creates,” sales rep Linda Miller said. “We have retail product ready to ship. We have some institutional product as well.” More bad news for school kids forthcoming?
Consumers who have purchased potentially contaminated products should not open, touch or eat the product but instead return the product for a full refund. Contaminated food won’t necessarily smell spoiled. Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning which can cause weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also occur.
