Published: January 22, 2008 05:13 pm         

CANNED FOOD RECALL EXPANDED

INDIANAPOLIS – New Era Canning Company in New Era, Michigan has expanded its canned food recall to include all canned green beans and garbanzo beans distributed by the company nationwide over the last five years. The affected cans are large, institutional-sized containers weighing about 6.5 pounds.

Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a toxin made by the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum.

 Due to this recall, Inter-American Products, a division of The Kroger Co. today announced a voluntary recall on all codes of Deli Chef Tri-Bean Salad sold from store deli counters.  The green beans in the Tri-Bean Salad were processed by the New Era Canning Company.  Consumers should not consume this product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.  No illnesses have been reported. 

“People who have any of these products or any food made with these products should throw them away immediately,” Lynae Granzow, enteric epidemiologist at the Indiana State Department of Health, said in a news release.  “The toxin is so potent that any exposure to it could cause botulism. People can become sick if the toxin gets on their hands or their face, so I recommend consumers do not even open the cans. “

The FDA says consumers should place recalled products in two plastic bags tightly sealed before placing in a non-recyclable trash receptacle outside of the home. If cans are swollen, bulging or leaking, gloves and eye protection are recommended before double-bagging and disposing of the cans.  Health officials recommend thoroughly washing both hands for at least two minutes after carefully removing and disposing the gloves.

Symptoms of botulism can begin from 6 hours to 10 days after exposure to the toxin. Symptoms may include: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body starting at the head, and then descending to the arms, torso, and legs.

Complications of botulism can include paralysis of the breathing muscles, which can result in death unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided. Individuals who have these symptoms and who may have recently eaten the products under recall or other food products made with them should seek immediate medical attention.

To date, no illnesses have been reported to the FDA; however, consumers should not consume these products, even if they appear to be normal, because of the potential serious health risk. Consumers who have the affected products or who have used them in recipes should immediately double-bag, and throw the cans and food away.

Signs of C. botulinum in canned foods can include bulging lids, foam, or a bad odor. However, not all cans will show signs if contaminated with C. botulinum.

Health officials say most of the recalled cans were distributed to nursing homes, restaurants and schools.  Local health departments around the state have already conducted onsite checks to ensure recalled products from the first two (2) recall announcements have been removed from these facilities, and have found the recall to be 100 percent effective to date.  The State Department of Health is urging consumers to check cupboards, pantries, and other places they store canned food to be sure they do not have the recalled products in their homes.

The recall covers the following products.  Unless otherwise noted, all cans weigh about 6.5 pounds:

 

Bunny brand, distributed by Bunn Capitol Co., Springfield, IL 

* Blue Lake mixed and shortcut green beans (UPC 6444500193)  

Classic Sysco brand, distributed by Sysco Corp., Houston, TX

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 7486510779)

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 7486510487)

* Garbanzo beans (UPC 7486510484)  

Code brand, distributed by Code, Atlanta, GA

* Mixed & short cut green beans

(UPC 1207310120)

* Fancy garbanzo beans without sulfites (UPC 1207316120) 

ComSource brand, distributed by ComSource, Atlanta, GA

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 5254952333)

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 5254952321) 

ComSource Medallion Premium Quality brand, distributed by ComSource, Atlanta, GA

* Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 5254952325) 

ComSource Merit Excellence Food Service brand, distributed by ComSource, Inc, Atlanta, GA

* Cut Blue Lake green beans

(UPC 5254952327)

* Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 5254952325) 

ComSource Traditional brand, distributed by ComSource, Atlanta, GA

* Blue Lake cut green beans, mixed and short cut (UPC 5254952359)

* Cut Blue Lake green beans

(UPC 5254952427) 

ComSource Traditional brand, distributed by ComSource, Atlanta, GA

* Cut Blue Lake green beans

(UPC 5254952429)

 Frosty Acres Restaurant's Pride Preferred brand, packed for F.A.B., Inc., Alpharetta, GA

* Fancy Cut Blue Lake Green Beans

(UPC 4820067373)

* Cut Blue Lake green beans

(UPC 4820067445)

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 4820067451)

* Fancy cut Blue Lake green beans

(UPC 4820067339)

* Fancy cut Blue Lake green beans

(UPC 4820067446)

* Mixture of Blue Lake short cut, cut green beans (UPC 4820068464)

* Fancy garbanzos "chick pea"

(UPC 4820068264)

 GFS brand, distributed by Gordon Food Service, Grand Rapids, MI

* Fancy Blue lake cut green beans

(UPC 9390111873)

* Blue Lake Cut Green Beans, reorder no. 273856 (9390127385)

* Fancy Mexican Style Chili Beans, GFS Reorder #192015, (UPC 9390119201)

 goodtaste brand, distributed by New Era Canning Co., New Era, MI

* Cut green beans (UPC 3683512340)

 *Great Value

* Dark Red Kidney Beans in 15.5 oz. cans, UPC 7874237085

 Harvest Value brand, distributed by U.S. Food Service, Columbia, MD 

* Cut green beans, mixed and short cut, (UPC 5810803534)

* Cut green beans (UPC 5810801047)

* Cut green beans, short cut

(UPC 5810803538)

Kitchen brand, distributed by Potato Products, Detroit, MI

* 5 sieve- EX.-STD. cut Blue Lake green beans (no UPC code)

 Kitchen brand, distributed by North Oakland Commodities, Grand Blanc, Michigan

* Blue Lake Mixed Cuts Green Beans

 Kitchen Essentials brand, distributed by Gordon Food Service, Grand Rapids, MI.

* Cut green beans (UPC 9390115633)

 Monarch brand, distributed by Reid, Murdoch & Co., Columbia, MD

* Extra Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans (UPC 5810811196)

* Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 5810801040)

 Monarch Premium brand, packed for PYA/Monarch, Inc, Greenville, SC

* Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans, 173205  (No UPC code)

 Mount Stirling brand, distributed by Pocahonta Foods USA,  Richmond, VA

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 4156033379)

 Necco brand, packed by New Era Canning Co., New Era, MI

* Cut green beans (UPC 3683513340)

 New Era brand, distributed by New Era Canning Co., New Era, MI

* Veri-Green cut green beans (No UPC code)

* Cut green beans (UPC 3683511340)

* Cut Blue Lake green beans, no salt added (No UPC code)

* Garbanzo beans (UPC 3683511684)

 Nugget brand, distributed by Nugget, Atlanta, GA

* Green beans (UPC 4410540023)

* Cut green beans (UPC4410501930)

* Veri-green cut green beans

(UPC 4410502101)

 Nugget brand, distributed by Nugget, Atlanta, GA

* Mixed short cut green beans

(UPC 4410518838)

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 4410501989)

 Pocahontas brand, distributed by Pocahontas Foods USA, Richmond, VA 

* Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 4156010282)

* Fancy long cut green beans

(UPC 4156010325)

* Fancy Blue Lake green beans

(UPC 4156010280)

 Reliance Sysco, distributed by Sysco Corporation, Houston, TX

* Mixed cut green beans (UPC 7486512175)

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 7486512172)

* Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 7486512174)

 Sysco brand, distributed by Sysco Corporation, Houston, TX

* 5096342 Imperial Blue Lake cut green beans (UPC 7486512136)

* 5096359 Imperial Blue Lake cut green beans cans (UPC 7486512137)

 US brand, distributed by U.S. FoodService, Columbia, MD

* Cut green beans (UPC 5810801048)

* Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 5810811195)

* Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 5810801040)

* Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans

(UPC 5810801041)

* Cut green beans (UPC 5810801042)

 USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, Special Nutrition Programs, Alexandria, VA label

* Cut green beans (UPC 1500101061)

* Garbanzo beans (UPC code 1500101089)

 For more information, visit the Food and Drug Administration Web site at: www.fda.gov.