The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Birtch Farms and Estate Winery are warning the public not to consume the Birtch Farms and Estate Winery brand Pumpkin Butter because it may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

The affected product, Birtch Farms and Estate Winery brand Pumpkin Butter, was sold in 110 ml and 250 ml jars. All lot codes are affected by this alert.

This product has been distributed in Ontario.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The manufacturer, Birtch Farms and Estate Winery, Woodstock, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Krasnyi Oktyabr of Brooklyn issued a voluntary recall of its Beer Set Dried Rudd because the fish’s gut was not properly removed, thus it has the potential to harbor Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria whose spores produce a dangerous toxin that causes paralysis in humans.

The problem was discovered during a routine inspection by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, after which a lab analysis of the fish revealed that indeed it had not been properly eviscerated pre-processing.

The recalled product is imported from Russia. It comes in a vacuum packed 7oz (200 g) bag and a “best before” date of 10.22.12. The fish was sold to one retail store on June 14 in New York City.

An address for the company issuing the recall is provided in the recall notice; however it is not clear whether the address is for a distribution center or retail store. The location listed is 60 20th street, Brooklyn, NY 11232.

A Pennsylvania-based company is recalling several of its protein drinks because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that can cause a life-threatening illness in humans when ingested.

Protica, Inc. of Whitehall, PA issued a voluntary recall of its Body Choice “Protein Shots,” Nutritional Resources “Protein Wave,” ProBalance “Protein to Go French Vanilla Latte” and “Protein to Go Milk Shake” Thursday after an on-site investigation revealed that they were being processed in a way that is not guaranteed to prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Toxins produced by this bacteria attack the nervous system and can cause paralysis and even death.

Products subject to the recall include:

– Protein to Go Milk Chocolate Shake, sold in a 2.5 oz. bottle, marked with the following:

Manufacture Date Lot Number

2/9/12 PP0402 4109 A

2/9/12 PP0402 4109 B

2/9/12 PP0402 4109 C

2/9/12 PP0402 4109 D

2/9/12 PP0402 4109 E

2/9/12 PP0402 4109 F

2/9/12 PP0402 4109 G

2/13/12 PP0442 4113

2/16/12 PP0442 4115

3/29/12 PP0892 4121

4/12/12 PP1032 4131 A

4/12/12 PP1032 4131 B

4/25/12 PP1162 4134 B

4/25/12 PP1162 4134 C

4/25/12 PP1162 4134 A

5/3/12 PP1242 4139

5/8/12 PP1242 4140

6/7/12 PP1592 4145 B

6/7/12 PP1592 4145 A

– Protein to Go French Vanilla Latte, sold in a 2.5 oz. bottle, marked with the following:

Manufacture Date Lot Number

9/8/2011 PP2511 4066 A

9/8/2011 PP2511 4066 B

10/11/2011 PP2841 4079

10/18/2011 PP2911 4086

12/6/2011 PP3401 4103

2/13/2012 PP0442 4112

4/2/2012 PP0932 4122

4/4/2012 PP0952 4125

4/11/2012 PP1022 4129

4/24/2012 PP1152 4133 A

4/24/2012 PP1152 4133 B

4/24/2012 PP1152 4133 C

5/1/2012 PP1222 4138 A

5/1/2012 PP1222 4138 B

5/1/2012 PP1222 4138 C

5/8/2012 PP1292 4141

6/8/2012 PP1592 4146 A

6/8/2012 PP1592 4146 B

– Nutritional Resources Protein Wave gelatin, served in a 6 oz. cup and marked with a manufacture date of May 03 2012 and lot number PP 1242 6123

– Body Choice Protein Shots, served in a 3 oz. vial and marked with a manufacture date of Dec 20, 2011 and lot number PP 3541 2924

Symptoms of botulism (the illness caused by C. botulinum toxins) include general weakness, dizziness, double-vision, trouble speaking or swallowing, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, abdominal distention and constipation.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) warned consumers not to eat certain 7th Heaven Gourmet spreads on Saturday because they were processed in a manner that makes them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism poisoning.

7th Heaven Gourmet of Hesperia, California recalled its Pate Mediterraneo and Eggplant & Shitake Tapenade spreads packaged in 8 ounce glass jars with screw-on metal lids, which were available for purchase between September 2011 and July 2012 and sold at farmers markets in Victorville and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Consumers may have purchased the 7th Heaven Gourmet spreads at the following farmers markets:

– Victorville Farmers Market (Victor Valley College) 18422 Bear Valley Rd, Victorville, CA

– Victoria Garden Farmers Market, 12505 North Mainstreet, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Anyone in possession of the recalled products should discard them in the trash.

The Arizona Republic reports that four state prison inmates were hospitalized with suspected botulism poisoning Friday after apparently drinking homemade prison alcohol, authorities said.

This is not the first time that prison inmates have been diagnosed with botulism following what is suspected to be an attempt at making homemade alcohol.

In 2011, 12 inmates at the Utah State Prison in Draper developed botulism after drinking a concoction made from fruit, potatoes, bread, water and sugar.

In 2004, four California inmates were hospitalized after contracting botulism from a two-gallon batch of prison-made alcohol.

Smoked salmon products made in Alaska and sold in the Fairbanks area have been recalled by their maker due to possible contamination with botulism-causing bacteria, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

DEC says the recall includes both commercial and custom-processed items that were hot-smoked, vacuum-packed and sold since December 2011 by Interior Alaska Fish Processors, Inc., under the Santa’s Smokehouse brand, with labels incorrectly indicating that they can be kept under refrigeration.

“The recalled products may have batch numbers ranging from #408 through #457,” DEC said in a statement Tuesday. “The primary product label shows Santa’s Smokehouse Gourmet Smoked Salmon, the incorrect holding statement, ‘Keep refrigerated below 38° F,’ a handwritten batch number, and a product description of ‘original,’ ‘honey,’ ‘garlic,’ ‘sweet and sour,’ ‘teriyaki,’ ‘tropical,’ or ‘Cajun.’”

The back of the recalled products may include a supplemental sticker with the correct warning, to keep the products frozen and thaw them under refrigeration.

Clostridium botulinum bacteria can cause botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning. Its symptoms include general weakness, paralysis, dizziness, double-vision, trouble with speaking or swallowing, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, abdominal distension and constipation. Anyone showing signs of botulism should immediately seek medical attention.

While no cases of illness have been reported, DEC says the affected products were sold in and around Fairbanks, as well as online through the website http://www.santassmokehouse.com.

Healthy Choice Island Blends, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA, is recalling all sizes of LIQUID GOLD CARROT JUICE including 128oz, 64oz, 32oz, and 16 oz, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness.

Foodborne botulism is a severe type of food poisoning caused by the ingestion of foods containing the potent neurotoxin formed during growth of the organism. Foodborne botulism can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking, breathing and swallowing. Weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms.

People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Liquid Gold Carrot Juice was distributed in California and sold wholesale to produce companies.

Product was sold in plastic see-through containers in gallon, half-gallon, and quart sizes. Product has a white label branded Liquid Gold with picture of carrots and a glass of carrot juice, with UPC Code 7 63213 00130.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Marler Clark represented the sons of a Florida woman who suffered botulism and died after drinking contaminated Bolthouse Farms carrot juice in 2006. She was one of 6 people in the U.S. and Canada who became ill with botulism poisoning after consuming the carrot juice.

In September of 2006, the Georgia Division of Public Health, Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joined to investigate several cases of botulism. The investigation ultimately resulted in the identification of Bolthouse Farms carrot juice as the source of the botulism outbreak. Three Georgia residents, the Florida woman, and two Ontario, Canada residents were diagnosed with botulism during the outbreak.

Euphoria Fancy Food Inc. at 149-151 2nd Ave. Brooklyn NY 11215 is recalling DRIED BREAM discovered by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors during a routine inspection and subsequent analysis of product by Food Laboratory personnel confirming that the fish was not properly eviscerated prior to processing.

This product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause Botulism, a serious and potentially fatal food-borne illness.

The sale of this type of fish is prohibited under New York State Agriculture and Markets regulations because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning. Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty in swallowing and respiratory paralysis.

The recalled DRIED BREAM comes in an un-coded, 7.5 ounce vacuum packed plastic bag and was sold nationwide. The UPC number is 7 930042 250954. It is a product of Russia.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman today warned consumers not to eat soups from One Gun Ranch and Organic Soup Kitchen because they may have been improperly produced, making them susceptible to Clostridium botulinum. Ingestion of botulinum toxin from improperly processed canned foods may lead to serious illness and death. No illnesses have been linked to any of the affected products at this time.

One Gun Ranch, a Malibu company, manufactured the following varieties of soups: Campfire Kitchen Cauliflower Soup, Heirloom Tomato Fennel Gaspacho Soup, Sequoia’s Skinny Spiced Coconut, Parsnip, and Turmeric Soup, Ossian’s Pumpkin Stew, and Freddy’s Firegrilled Meatballs. The soups were sold in 16-ounce glass jars with screw-on metal lids. Photographs of the affected soups’ packaging and labels are available on the CDPH website.

The soups were only sold at Pacific Palisades Farmers Market located at Swarthmore Avenue and Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA on May 13, 2012 and June 3, 2012.

Organic Soup Kitchen, a Santa Barbara company, manufactured the following soups: Fire Roasted Yam, Curried Potato Leek, Curry Lentil Bisque, Tomato Bean and Wild Herb, and Mediterranean Chipotle Chili. The soups were sold under the Organic Soup Kitchen label and are packaged in one-quart glass jars with screw-on metal lids. Photographs of the affected soups’ packaging and labels are available on the CDPH website.

The soups were sold between June 6, 2011 and May 6, 2012, at the following farmers markets:

Calabasas Farmers Market located at Calabasas Road and El Canon Avenue, Calabasas, CA 91302 (Saturdays)

Studio City Farmers Market located at Ventura Place between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Radford Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604 (Sundays)

CDPH is working with both companies to ensure these products are no longer available for sale.

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The initial symptoms are frequently double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, and dry, sore throat. Additional symptoms may include slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, inability of the neck muscles to support the head, and paralysis of the extremities and respiratory muscles can occur. Infants with botulism appear lethargic, are constipated, have a weak cry, and poor muscle tone. Consumers with any of these symptoms should contact their health care provider.

CDPH advises consumers who have purchased the affected soups to throw them away immediately, and then thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water.