Clarification: This post contains errors of fact. The Great Value brand sold at Wal-Mart in the United States is not part of the much publicized recall anounced by manufacturer Castleberry's.

The Great Value Chili products included in this recall are distributed and sold in Canada ONLY. The Great Value brand in the United States is not associated with Castleberry’s or this recall. Note Canadian Press article.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/07/23/4361709-cp.html

A complete list of products to which the recall applies is at www.castleberrys.com.

Full disclosure: I am part of the corporate communications effort of Castleberry's.


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Connors Bros. unit expands botulism-scare recall

Canadian Press

Gary Norris

July 23, 2007


TORONTO (CP) - A botulism-scare recall at Connors Bros. Income Fund (TSX:CBF.UN) unit Castleberry's Food Co. in the United States has been expanded and includes a canned-chili product sold in Canada.

Connors Bros. units fell seven per cent Monday morning after the news, losing 77 cents to $9.88 on the TSX, down from $11.20 before the original recall was announced last week.

The weekend expansion of the recall follows a joint U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture inspection of the Castleberry's plant in Augusta, Ga.

Exposure to botulinum toxin can be fatal and two people in Texas and two in Indiana remain seriously ill with botulism poisoning associated with Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce.

The recall includes Great Value Chili sold in Canada, along with more than 80 other varieties of human food products - up from 10 in the original recall - and four types of dog food.

"Castleberry's is working closely with health officials to investigate possible contamination of these products," the company stated.

"During this investigation, we are taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of the families that use our products every day."

The Great Value Chili included in the recall is distributed in Canada only.

The other products covered by the recall include 15 Castleberry's-branded products, and dozens of others, mostly involving chili, hotdogs and beans, under brands including Austex, Best Yet, Big Y, Bryan, Bunker Hill, Cattle Drive, Firefighters, Food Club, Food Lion, Goldstar, Lowes, Meijer, Morton House, Paramount, Piggly Wiggly, Prudence, Southern Home, Steak 'n Shake, Thrifty Maid, Triple Bar and Value Time.

Also named are Natural Balance Eatables dog food varieties Irish Stew with Beef, Chinese Take Out with Sauce with Vegetables and Chicken, Southern Style Dumplings with Gravy with Chicken and Vegetables, and Hobo Chili with Chicken Pasta.

The original recall covered production between April 30 and May 22, but this has been expanded to include all products regardless of date.

"We believe we have isolated the issue to a situation of under-processing on one line of our production facility," Steve Mavity, head of quality assurance for Castleberry's, said in a statement Monday.

"As an extra precaution to the recall we announced on Wednesday, we have shut down this line altogether and are recalling all products produced on it."

Connors Bros. noted that the products being recalled make up less than four per cent of the annual revenue of the income trust, whose main businesses are in canned fish including Clover Leaf Seafoods, Bumble Bee Foods and Brunswick.

"The estimated impact on the company's financial performance has not yet been determined," the trust said.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning begin from six hours to two weeks after consuming contaminated food, the FDA said. Symptoms include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and weakness that starts in the shoulders and moves progressively down the body. It can cause fatal paralysis of the breathing muscles.

NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS PERFECT. AND IF IT WERE IT WOULD BE A VERY BORING WORLD. ACCEPT THE CARDS THAT FATE HAS DEALT YOU AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. EVEN IF YOU DECIDED TO EXIT THIS LIFE, YOU COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT YOU WOULD END UP IN A PLACE WHERE ALL THINGS ARE PERFECT.

IT SEEMS A SHAME TO DESTROY ALL OF THAT FOOD . BOTULISM TAINTATED FOOD MAY BE MADE TOTALLY SAFE BY BOILING FOR 30 MINUTES. IT COULD THEN BE SERVED TO THE HUNGRY RATHER THAN DESTROYED;

I had some Casleberry's hot dog sause and some corn beef hash, unknown manufature, I pitched them all out. Big deal, it cost me $6.00, Better than being sick

lets give all of the tainted food to the saudi's