FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 26, 2007

FDA expands its nationwide warning about the risk of botulism poisoning

Public health departments in the Greater Kansas City metro region are alerting consumers that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded its July 18 botulism toxin warning to consumers regarding canned food products to include dog food produced by Castleberry's Food Company of Augusta, Georgia. The expansion includes all of the following canned products with all "best by" and code dates.

FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or eat any of the canned products listed in this table:

• Austex Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030097101)
• Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030099533)
• Austex Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030090815)
• Austex Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030091015)
• Austex Chili With Beans, 19 oz can (UPC 3030092519)
• Austex Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030097715)
• Austex Chili No Beans, 19 oz can (UPC 3030097719)
• Best Yet Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4217841082)
• Best Yet Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4218740842)
• Big Y Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480424)
• Big Y Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480225)
• Big Y Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480425)
• Black Rock Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001715)
• Bloom Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 2543992448)
• Bryan Hot Dog Chili Sauce With Beef, 10 oz can (UPC 5340030010)
• Bryan Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030110)
• Bryan Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030200)
• Bryan Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030205)
• Bryan Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 5340035264)
• Bunker Hill Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604152)
• Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604112)
• Bunker Hill Spicier Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604224)
• Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000101)
• Castleberry's Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030007101)
• Castleberry's Brunswick Stew Chicken & Beef, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000315
• Castleberry's Barbecue Pork, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000402)
• Castleberry's Barbecue Pork, 14.5 oz can (UPC 3030000415)
• Castleberry's Barbecue Beef, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000602)
• Castleberry's Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000815)
• Castleberry's Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000915)
• Castleberry's Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001015)
• Castleberry's Sausage Gravy, 10 oz can (UPC 3030005130)
• Castleberry's Creamed Chip Beef Gravy, 10 oz can (UPC 3030005150)
• Castleberry's Hot Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030007217)
• Castleberry's Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 3030007701)
• Castleberry's Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030007715)
• Castleberry's Georgia Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000215)
• Cattle Drive Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001530)
• Cattle Drive Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001520)
• Cattle Drive Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001525)
• Cattle Drive Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001515)
• Firefighters Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7372500413)
• Firefighters Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 737250041)
• Firefighters Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7372500412)
• Food Club Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080204)
• Food Club Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080404)
• Food Club Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080504)
• Food Lion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3582606911)
• Goldstar Original Chili, 10oz can (UPC 2457500001)
• Goldstar Chili, 15oz can (UPC 2457500005)
• Goldstar Tex-Mex Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 2457500008)
• Great Value Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 8113179994)
• Great Value Hot Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 8113179995)
• Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 1111083942)
• Kroger Beef Stew, 15oz can (UPC 1111083928)
• Kroger Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1111083930)
• Kroger Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1111083908)
• Lowes Foods Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301092)
• Lowes Foods Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301094)
• Lowes Foods Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301097)
• Meijer Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 4125085862)
• Meijer Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095220)
• Meijer Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095221)
• Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095229)
• Morton House Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665829)
• Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665830)
• Morton House Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665993)
• Paramount Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 7526600510)
• Paramount Chili for Hot Dogs, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600526)
• Paramount Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600731)
• Paramount Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600732)
• Piggly Wiggly Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037252)
• Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037354)
• Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 4129037355)
• Piggly Wiggly Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037357)
• Prudence Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4114100015)
• Southern Home Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 3825948713)
• Southern Home Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015340)
• Southern Home Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015341)
• Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015359)
• Steak n Shake Chili With Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 5184400120)
• Thrifty Maid Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 2114021367)
• Thrifty Maid Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (2114021370)
• Thrifty Maid Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (2114021375)
• Triple Bar Ranch Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005801)
• Triple Bar Ranch Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005804)
• Triple Bar Ranch Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005805)
• Value Time Beef and Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1122542159)

Recalled pet foods, which are sold in 15-ounce cans, include:

• Irish Stew with Beef Dog Food, UPC 23633-59860
• Chinese Take Out with Sauce with Vegetables and Chicken Dog Food, UPC 23633-59861
• Southern Style Dumplings with Gravy with Chicken and Vegetables Dog Food, UPC 23633-59862
• Hobo Chili with Chicken Pasta Dog Food, UPC 23633-59863

Symptoms of botulism poisoning in humans can begin from 6 hours to two weeks after eating food which contains the toxin. Symptoms may include double vision and/or 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 should seek IMMEDIATE medical attention if they show these symptoms and if they have recently eaten any of the products listed above.

The disease has only been seen occasionally in dogs and has not been reported in cats. Ferrets are highly susceptible to botulism toxin. The incubation period can be two hours to two weeks; in most cases, the symptoms appear after 12 to 24 hours. Typical signs may include muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing, chewing and swallowing, visual disturbances, and generalized weakness may also occur. Death usually results from paralysis of the respiratory or cardiac muscles. Pet owners who have used these products and whose pets have these symptoms should contact their veterinarian immediately.

FDA will provide updates as more information becomes available. Consumers can call the FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD.

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