FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 8, 2008

Area Health Departments warn about food recall due to botulism

Health Departments in the metropolitan area urge residents and businesses to take action on a food recall due to botulism. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted consumers, food service operators and food retailers this morning that New Era Canning Company, New Era, Mich., is broadening its nationwide recall of canned vegetable products because of potential contamination with the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which produces a toxin that causes botulism.

Botulism can cause life-threatening illness or death. Symptoms can appear between 6 hours to two weeks after eating food containing the toxins and may include blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and muscle weakness that moves down the body from shoulders to arms, thighs and calves.

“Botulism can be a very serious illness,” said Mary Jo Everhart, RN, BSN, director of the Platte County Health Department. “It is vital that our residents and businesses check their food products and act on any recall to protect themselves, their families and their customers from potential exposure.”

The affected products are large, institutional-sized cans weighing between six and seven pounds, of various types of beans, black-eyed peas and asparagus.

"When recalls like this are issued, it is so important to check your products before you purchase them," said Dr. Leon Vinci, director of the Johnson County Health Department. "Being an aware consumer can protect you and your family from many serious health risks."

At this time, no illnesses have been reported to the FDA. However, consumers should not consume these products even if they appear to be normal due to the potential serious health risks. Consumers who have the affected products, or who have used them in recipes, should immediately throw the cans and food away.

The potentially contaminated products are marketed under ten different brand names:

1. Classic Sysco
2. Code
3. Frosty Acres Restaurant’s Pride Preferred
4. GFS
5. Kitchen Essentials
6. Monarch Heritage
7. Necco
8. New Era
9. Nugget
10. Reliance Sysco

These brands may also be packed by other processors, but only those products packed by New Era are subject to the recall. 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.

Please direct media questions on this topic to your local health department.

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