Botulism Blog - Surveillance & analysis on Botulism news & outbreaks

United Natural Foods, Inc. is recalling selected types of FoodMatch, Inc. Divina Stuffed Olives, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning. It can cause symptoms that include 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.

The following products have been recalled:

• DIVINA 4 OZ OLIVES,FETA CHEESE STUFFED UPC 63172352780
• DIVINA 4 OZ OLIVES,BLUE CHEESE STUFFED UPC 63172352790

Divina Olives Stuffed with Feta Cheese were distributed to the stores identified below. The date codes affected states: Best Used By: 11 JAN 2012 and Best Used By: 1 FEB 2012.

Date codes Best Used By: 11 JAN 2012 and Best Used By: 1 FEB 2012 sold at other retail outlets have not been affected because the products were not exposed to a lack of refrigeration controls.

Divina Olives Stuffed with Blue Cheese were distributed to the following states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington DC through the following retail stores: Genuardis, Carrs, Safeway, Pavilion and Vons. The following date codes were affected:

Best Used By: 11 JAN 2012, Best Used By: 15 DEC 2011, Best Used By: 30 DEC 2011, Best Used By: 1 FEB 2012

These date codes sold at other retail outlets have not been affected because the products were not exposed to a lack of refrigeration controls.

Divina Feta Cheese Stuffed Olives are packaged in plastic 4oz cup containers with a blue and yellow label.

Divina Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives are packaged in plastic 4oz cup containers with a blue label.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

These items have been recalled due to a lack of temperature control during the distribution process. UNFI inadvertently subjected the recall items to temperature ranges above those directed by the manufacturer.

Consumers who have purchased FoodMatch Inc. Divina Feta Cheese Stuffed Olives, or FoodMatch Inc. Divina Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives should not consume these products and are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Lisa Madsen of the Company at 1-401-528-8634, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm.

CFE International, Canadian Fish Exporters, Inc. Auburndale, MA is recalling Salted, Smoked, Split Herring, Lot Number: 1171, Plant Code: 2406 Producer: Leslie Leger & Sons, Ltd. Cap Pele, NB, Canada. A routine sample collected at a retail store by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found the product to be uneviscerated. Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish.

Botulinum spores can cause Botulism, a serious and potentially fatal food-borne illness. Botulism can cause the following symptoms: 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.

The product was distributed in 18 lb wooden boxes (40-60 count) thru distributors in: CT, FL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PR, VA and packaged by retail stores in various weight range from ½ lb to 1.5 lb.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Tubs of herring sold by Royal Sweet Bakery in Brooklyn, N.Y., are being recalled by the company, warned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The packages may contain fish that have been improperly eviscerated and possibly cause Botulism, a serious and potentially fatal food-borne illness.

The recalled fish, Herring in Vegetable Oil Filling, comes in 49.38 ounce jars with date codes of 06.04.2011 and 09.06.2011. The tainted herrings are a product of Russia and were sold nationwide by the Brooklyn company.

Officials warn that herring viscera are likely to contain high concentrations of Clostridium botulinum, spores that cause botulism poisoning. Eating the improperly eviscerated fish may cause blurred or double vision, general weakness and poor reflexes, difficulty in swallowing and respiratory paralysis.

No illnesses have been tied to the recalled herring.

Lakeside Foods Inc. has recalled about 3,000 cans of pickled beets sold between December 2009 and January 2011.

Some cans of the Wisconsin-based company's 105-ounce pickled sliced beets could be under processed and may be contaminated with harmful organisms including Clostridium and botulinum.

Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning that could cause general weakness, dizziness, double vision, difficulty breathing, constipation and trouble with speaking or swallowing.

No illnesses have been reported.

Yesterday, March 8, 2011, The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, warned the public to avoid consuming watermelon jelly prepared by Jamnation Fine Foods due to a potential contamination with toxins produced from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Those toxins may cause botulism, a rare but potentially life-threatening bacterial illness. The company has also issued a recall of the product.

According to Sion Shyng, a Food Safety Specialist at BCCDC, during the summer of 2010, “The jelly was sold through the British Columbia Huntingtons Research Foundation charity booths in Duncan, and may also have been sold in other parts of province.”

Although the product was sold nearly a year ago, officials at BCCDC fear that consumers could still be holding on to it. “We’re concerned that this product may still be in the homes of consumers as jellies can be stored and consumed long after they are purchased,” said Shyng.

Dr. Eleni Galanis, Physician Epidemiologist with BCCDC, explained that “[t]his recall was prompted by a suspect case of botulism on Vancouver Island, and the subsequent investigation of foods recently consumed by the individual.”

“The signs and symptoms of botulism cover a wide spectrum,” noted Dr. Galanis. “Symptoms can begin anywhere from six hours to one week after someone has eaten food containing the toxin,” added Galanis.

In general, symptoms of botulism poisoning include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, muscle weakness, and muscle paralysis that moves progressively down the body, affecting the arms first, then the legs. In the most serious cases, botulism can also trigger paralysis of the breathing muscles, which may result in death unless respiratory assistance is provided.

The News Desk at Food Safety News reported that “[t]he BCCDC is currently working with B.C. Health Authorities and the B.C. Ministry of Health Services to ensure the recalled product is removed from distribution and is investigating any possible cases of illness.”

Even though the jelly was sold in British Columbia, products such as that are easily transported across the border. Consumers in the U.S. should also make sure that they are not in possession of and have not consumed the product.

Those who may have consumed the jelly and have symptoms compatible with botulism should call the 24-hour HealthLink BC line at 811, contact their physician, or view the BC HealthFiles on botulism online (www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles). BCCDC is also urging consumers that if they have one of the 120 ml. jars of watermelon jelly, to discard it immediately.

For more information on Botulism please visit the BCCDC's Botulism page.