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GREEN BEANS RECALLED BECAUSE OF BOTULISM RISK
New Era Canning Company of New Era, Michigan, is voluntarily recalling 171 cases of GFS Fancy Blue Lake Cut Green Beans, because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death from botulism, warned West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. Consumers should not use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled, he added.
The canned green beans were distributed to foodservice customers in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia and sold through GFS Marketplace stores in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. West Virginia companies and consumers might be affected by the recall because of their shared border with some of the affected states.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
The canned green beans are packaged in 6 lbs., 5 oz. cans (6 cans per case) under the GFS brand (GFS reorder #118737; UPC 93901 11873) with lot code 19H7FL printed on the end of the cans. No other reorder numbers or lots are included in this recall.
Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. The incubation period can be two hours to two weeks; in most cases the symptoms appear after 12 to 24 hours.
The potential contamination of the product was found through testing by the Food and Drug Administration. New Era Canning in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Michigan Department of Agriculture is thoroughly evaluating all processes and procedures to determine the cause of the problem.
Any food that may be contaminated should be disposed of carefully. Even tiny amounts of toxins ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the eye or a break in the skin can cause serious illness. Skin contact should be avoided as much as possible, and the hands should be washed immediately after handling the food.
Customers should not return products to Gordon Food Service, but should throw them away immediately. Double bag the cans in plastic bags that are tightly closed then place in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside of the home. Restaurants and institutions are encouraged to assure that such products are only placed in locked receptacles which are not accessible to the public. Additional instructions for safe disposal can be found at www.cdc.gov/botulism/botulism_faq.htm.
Anyone with questions can call FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD.
Customers with questions may contact New Era Canning at 1-800-282-9007, Ext. 111.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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