8 x 10 in. (1)Arcadia Trading Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling 34 cartons of Lizard Fish because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death.  Consumers are warned not to consume the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form

I was “asked” by a New York state court judge on Friday to be in court the next Tuesday (tomorrow) on a hepatitis A case that has been pending for some time, so when checking the weather for for the city, this recall notice popped up:

generic-dried-yellow-fishA Brooklyn import-export company is recalling an undisclosed amount

Hmm, seems a bit too close to E. coli for comfort.

ECOLA Seafoods Inc. of Cannon Beach, Oregon is voluntarily recalling ALL canned salmon and tuna with any code starting with “OC” because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned

Jose-Madrid-salsa-jar-200x300Jose Madrid Salsa of Zanesville, OH, has recalled its mild salsa because the jars are not properly sealed and therefore present a health risk. Improperly sealed jars can lead to product spoilage or contamination by the bacteria that cause botulism.

Jose Madrid salsa jar lids may have been convex instead of vacuum sealed, according to

Screen Shot 2015-04-27 at 3.07.42 PM21 Confirmed Cases with One Death and 10 Suspected Cases

Based on laboratory tests and interviews with potluck attendees, public health officials have concluded that potato salad made with home-canned potatoes is the likely cause of a foodborne botulism outbreak following a church potluck in Lancaster on April 19.

Botulism is a rare but serious

7492253_GThe New Mexico Department of Health is cooperating with the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on an investigation of two patients who are hospitalized in Texas with suspected botulism. The source is currently being investigated but is likely contaminated food. The patients are two adults

Star SeafoodAt the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a judge has ordered L.A. Star Seafood Company Inc., located in Los Angeles, and its owners, Sima and Sam Goldring, to halt operations until they demonstrate to the FDA that they can process food in compliance with food safety laws and regulations.

In 2012, at

THE 2014 VILLA ROMANO GREEN FARMS BOTULISM OUTBREAK

In late May 2014 John Napierski, purchased seven jars of VR Greens Farms (VRGF) Basil Pine Nut Pesto at a Farm Stand operated at the Bella Collina Towne and Golf Club in San Clemente, California.  While on a road trip east, Mr. Napierski gave two jars to friends in Denver, Colorado. He then continued his trip to Ohio and gave two jars to his daughter, Kathryn (“Katy”), who was a nursing student working and attending college in Cincinnati.  Katy and her friend, Arielle Allen, used a portion of one jar of pesto as an ingredient in a chicken pasta dish they cooked at home and shared on July 13. On July 15 Katy complained of a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Arielle started to have similar symptoms on July 17.  Over the next ten days both women continued to experience neurological symptoms.  Both women had multiple medical encounters before botulism was suspected as the cause of their symptoms. Katy was admitted to Bethesda North Hospital on July 17 and transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on July 18. Arielle was admitted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on July 27 due to worsening bulbar and facial weakness. Arielle’s admission to the hospital prompted the attending neurologist to note her friendship with Katy and similarity in symptoms between the two women.  He diagnosed both Katy and Arielle as having suspected botulism and notified public health authorities. Botulism antitoxin was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and administered to Arielle on the evening of July 28. Serum and stool collected from Arielle and Katy did not test positive for C. botulinum. The toxin, however, was found in pesto sauce leftover from the chicken pasta meal.

Investigators at the City of Cincinnati Health Department and the Ohio Department of Health quickly determined that Katy and Arielle had shared a meal of pasta with chicken and jarred pesto sauce. During a visit to Arielle’s apartment, investigators found leftover chicken pasta with pesto in the apartment refrigerator. This was collected for laboratory testing for the presence of Clostridium botulinum toxin as was an unopened jar of pesto that Katy had. On July 29 Ohio investigators notified the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Food and Drug Branch (FDB) that two Ohio residents had botulism and that the suspected source was VRGF Basil Pine Nut Pesto.  CDPH FDB contacted Dominic Romano, owner of VRGF, and informed him of the illnesses.Continue Reading A Botulism Tale: Two Young Women and One Jar of Pesto Sauce

Neptune Manufacturing agreed to a permanent injunction amid claims that it did not ensure a safe environment for seafood production.  The Order prohibits Neptune from committing violations of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and it requires Neptune to cease all manufacturing operations.

FDA inspections dating back to 2006 “documented a pattern of continuing

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman warned consumers today not to eat Williams-Sonoma Pumpkin Seed Pesto sauce because it may have been improperly produced, making it susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum.

Ingestion of botulism toxin from improperly processed jarred and canned foods may lead to serious