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 Clostridium botulinum

Preamble

Foodborne botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by consuming foods that are contaminated with a nerve toxin called botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin is produced by the germ Clostridium botulinum. This toxin affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis and death. Any food that may be contaminated with botulinum toxin should be discarded using extreme care. Even a tiny amount of toxin that is eaten or absorbed through a break in the skin or the eye can cause serious illness.

  • Do not open or puncture any unopened can of the recalled product.
  • Dispose of food that may be contaminated by placing in a sealable bag, wrapping another plastic bag around the sealable bag, and then taping tightly. Place bags in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside the home and out of reach of humans and pets. Do not discard the food in a sink, garbage disposal, or toilet. Avoid splashing and contact with the skin. Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling open containers of food that you think may be contaminated. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes after handling food or containers that may be contaminated.
  • Wipe up spills using a bleach solution (use ¼ cup bleach for each 2 cups of water). Completely cover the spill with the bleach solution. Place a layer of paper towels, 5 to 10 towels thick, on top of the bleach. Let the towels sit for at least 15 minutes, then put the paper towels in the trash. Wipe up any remaining liquid with new paper towels. Clean the area with liquid soap and water to remove the bleach. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes. Sponges, cloths, rags and gloves that may have come into contact with contaminated food or containers should be discarded with the food.

Questions and Answers

Related to the Outbreak of Botulism Associated with Canned Chili Sauce, July 2007

Did people get botulism from eating chili sauce?

Yes. As of July 22, 2007, four cases of botulism have been reported to CDC. All four persons (2 cases in Indiana and 2 cases in Texas) consumed Castleberry's brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce the day before the illness began. Botulinum toxin was identified in leftover chili sauce collected from a patient's home. Botulinum toxin was also identified in unopened cans of chili sauce.

Which brands of chili sauce have been linked to illness?

  • Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000101)
  • Castleberry's Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030099533)

Which brands have been recalled?

A listing of the recalled products can be found at the following websites:

Why are brands other than Castleberry being recalled?

All the recalled brands were canned in the same plant. There is concern that other products manufactured at this plant could be contaminated. None of the recalled products should be consumed.

How did botulinum toxin get into chili sauce?

FDA and USDA-FSIS identified a problem with the canning process. The problem means it is possible that spores of the germ Clostridium botulinum were not killed during canning, so could grow and produced toxin.

Does botulinum toxin make foods taste or look different?

Many products contaminated with botulinum toxin do not taste or look any different than normal. Some taste bad because they contain other contaminants.

Isn't botulism usually associated with home-canned foods?

Yes, most cases of botulism are caused by improperly prepared home-canned foods or traditional Alaskan Native foods. Commercially canned foods are generally extremely safe.

What are the signs or symptoms of botulism?

Signs and symptoms of botulism include new onset of double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or muscle weakness. 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. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Botulism can result in death.

I ate a recalled product. What should I do?

If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. These include new onset of double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. 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. If your physician suspects botulism, he or she should contact local or state health officials, who may collect any leftover product and cans.

If you ate a recalled product in the past 10 days, no intervention is available to prevent botulism. Treatment is only given to persons who show signs or symptoms of botulism. If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. You do not need to make yourself vomit or take any other action. Watch for signs or symptoms of botulism for 10 days after you ate the recalled product.

If you ate a recalled product more than 10 days ago and you have no signs or symptoms of botulism, you are very unlikely to develop botulism.

I ate a type of product that was recalled, but I don't know the brand. What should I do?

The types of recalled products include canned chili sauce, chili, beef stew, hash, corned beef hash, barbecue pork, barbecue beef, chip beef, Brunswick stew, and sausage gravy. Canned dog food was also recalled.

If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. These include new onset of double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. 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.

If you ate the product in the past 10 days, no intervention is available to prevent botulism. Treatment is only given to persons who show signs or symptoms of botulism. If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. You do not need to make yourself vomit or take any other action. Watch for signs or symptoms of botulism for 10 days after you ate the product.

If you ate the product more than 10 days ago and you have no signs or symptoms of botulism, you are very unlikely to develop botulism.

I have an unopened can of one the recalled products. What should I do?

Do not open or puncture the can. Place the unopened can in a sealable bag, wrap another plastic bag around it, and tape it tightly. Dispose the taped bags in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside the home and out of reach of humans and pets. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes.

I have an open can, leaking can, or food prepared from of one of the recalled products. What should I do?

Any food that may be contaminated with botulinum toxin should be discarded using extreme care. Even a tiny amount of toxin that is eaten or absorbed through a break in the skin or the eye can cause serious illness. Avoid splashing and contact with the skin. Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling an open can, leaking can, or food prepared from one of the recalled products.. Do not discard the food in a sink, garbage disposal, or toilet.

If the food is in a disposable container, leave it in the container. Put the container in a sealable bag, wrap another plastic bag around the sealable bag, and then tape tightly. If the food is in a non-disposable container, put the food from the container into a sealable bag, wrap another plastic bag around the sealable bag, and then tape tightly. Dispose the taped bags in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside the home and out of reach of humans and pets. Fill the non-disposable container with a dilute bleach solution (use ¼ cup bleach for every 2 cups of water), and allow to soak for at least 15 minutes. Discard the liquid and wash the container thoroughly with soap and running water.

Sponges, cloths, rags and gloves that may have come into contact with contaminated food or containers should be discarded with the food in a non-recyclable trash receptacle.

After disposing of the product, slowly remove gloves and dispose in a non-recyclable trash receptacle after use. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes.

I spilled the recalled product or a food made with the recalled product on my kitchen counter, floor, carpet, or furniture. How do I clean it up safely?

Make a dilute bleach solution (use ¼ cup bleach for every 2 cups of water). Wear rubber or latex gloves and avoid contact with the skin. Completely cover the spill with the bleach solution. Place a layer of paper towels, 5 to 10 towels thick, on top of the bleach. Let the towels sit for at least 15 minutes, then put the paper towels in the trash. Wipe up any remaining liquid with new paper towels. Clean the area with liquid soap and water to remove the bleach. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes. Be aware that bleach can damage surfaces. Cleaning a surface with soap or any other detergent and water without prior bleach treatment may not remove botulinum toxin.

I fed recalled product to my pet. What should I do?

If your pet develops signs of botulism, seek veterinary attention immediately. Signs of botulism in pets are similar to those in people. In addition, your pet may have difficulty holding its head up or its tongue may hang out of the mouth. There is no specific treatment for botulism in animals, but supportive medical care may be helpful.

Watch your pet for signs of botulism for 10 days after it ate the recalled product. If your pet develops signs of botulism, seek veterinary attention immediately.

If your pet ate a recalled product more than 10 days ago and your pet has no signs or symptoms of botulism, they are very unlikely to develop botulism.

I fed my pet canned dog food or a type of product that was recalled, but I don't know the brand. What should I do?

If your pet develops signs of botulism, seek veterinary attention immediately. Signs of botulism in pets are similar to those in people. In addition, your pet may have difficulty holding its head up or its tongue may hang out of the mouth. There is no specific treatment for botulism in animals, but supportive medical care may be helpful.

Watch your pet for signs of botulism for 10 days after it ate the product. If your pet develops signs of botulism, seek veterinary attention immediately.

If your pet ate the product more than 10 days ago and your pet has no signs or symptoms of botulism, they are very unlikely to develop botulism.


Content Source: National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
Page last modified: July 26, 2007