Botulism Associated with Canned Chili Sauce, July 2007

Source | CDC

Public health officials in Indiana, Texas, and at CDC are investigating an outbreak of botulism associated with commercially-canned hot dog chili sauce. Foodborne botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by consuming foods that contain botulinum toxin, a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Due to possible contamination with botulinum toxin, CDC and FDA are advising persons not to eat the following brands with “best by” dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009:

Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000101);

Castleberry’s Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030099533);

Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 1111083942);

Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526665830);

Cattle Drive Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001515);

Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 0788015360);

Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4125095229);

Castleberry’s Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001015);

Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000402);

Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 7526604112).

Other foods that should be discarded are cans of the recalled product with missing or unreadable “best by” dates, foods that may have been prepared with a recalled product, and canned chili sauce, chili, corned beef hash, or barbecue pork of an unknown brand.

As of July 18, 2007, four cases of botulism have been reported to CDC from Indiana (2 cases) and Texas (2 cases). Onset dates range from June 29 to July 9, 2007.  All four persons were reported to have consumed Castleberry’s brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original. Botulinum toxin was identified in leftover chili sauce from an unlabeled sealable bag collected from a patient’s refrigerator.

CDC OutbreakNet (the network of epidemiologists and other public health officials, facilitated by CDC, who investigate outbreaks of foodborne, waterborne, and other enteric illnesses nationwide) staff shared this information with colleagues at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After being informed about the outbreak by the FDA, the company that manufactures the Castleberry’s brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce and other products issued a voluntary recall on July 18, 2007.

Signs and symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Paralysis of the breathing muscles can lead to death unless prompt medical care is sought. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.

Persons with any of these signs or symptoms who have eaten Castleberry’s brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce or any of the other recalled products are advised to immediately contact their health care provider.