Castleberry Recall Information for Salvager and Food Bank Organizations
The following information has been received by our office from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
We are trying to share the below information regarding the Castleberry recall with as many salvager and food bank organizations as possible. We need your help to spread the word. There is no national salvage operation for FDA to contact and it is important that the state officials share the information provided below with their local health and ag departments so that they can follow-up on salvage operations and those operations supplying food to the needy within their jurisdiction's authority. The attachment below is a message for retailers and food service establishments regarding the removal and disposal of recalled products due to botulism hazard.
DATE: July 25, 2007
FROM: FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
A Message for Retailers and Foodservice Establishments on the Removal and Disposal of Recalled Products Due to Botulism Hazard
Background
A nationwide recall of certain canned human food and dog food products manufactured by Castleberry Food Company of Augusta, Georgia was announced on July 18, 2007 and expanded on July 21, 2007. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are warning consumers not to open or eat canned products identified as part of the recall or to feed any of the canned products to their pets. These products may contain hazardous botulinum toxin. Botulism can be fatal. Human illnesses have been associated with two of the recalled human food products.
FDA and USDA are currently asking retailers and foodservice operations to respond immediately to remove and secure recalled products, making sure that all recalled products are not inadvertently made available for purchase, salvage or donation and therefore preventing any possibility for human or animal consumption. Castleberry Food Company has established a plan for recalling its affected products. Retailers should follow the instructions received from the company or its distribution centers for removing, marking and securing the products. Further suggestions for the proper removal of recalled products from further circulation and disposal of recalled products are provided below.
Removal of Recalled Products from Circulation
All recalled products should be removed from store shelves and separated from other stock immediately. If possible, use additional safeguards, such as locking out the UPC codes at check-out, to ensure these products are not sold to consumers and cashiers informed of the hazard and cautioned not to override the lockout.
Removed recalled products should be kept in a secure area and identified with signs that have bold, clear lettering indicating that the products pose an extreme health hazard. Removed recalled products need to be clearly marked to prevent restocking, re-entry into commerce (including donation to food or pet food banks), or diversion to food or pet food salvage operations. Consider shrink wrapping recalled products to ensure they do not accidentally find their way back into commerce.
Disposal of Recalled Products
Recalled products should be isolated from other stock, secured and tagged for pick-up or disposal as directed by Castleberry or their designee. Disposal must be done in accordance with State and local regulations and ordinances and in a manner that will prevent diversion of the recalled products. Recalled products should not be disposed of by placing them in unsecured garbage cans, dumpsters or other receptacles in a manner that could result in subsequent removal by individuals for their own use or for sale to others.
Particular care should be used when handling and disposing of cans that show signs of swelling or leakage to prevent any human exposure to the contents of the cans.
Special Precautions for Handling and Disposing of Opened Cans of Recalled Products
Opened containers of the recalled products or any foods made with the recalled products should be discarded with extreme care. An open container of a food included in this recall should be disposed of as follows: 1) place the open container in a sealable plastic bag 2) place the sealed plastic bag containing the open product inside two additional plastic bags and then tightly tape the bags closed and 3) place the sealed/taped plastic bags containing the opened product in a secure trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash. Do not discard any of the recalled food in a sink, garbage disposal or toilet.
Wear rubber gloves when handling open containers of suspect food. Wash hands thoroughly after handling suspect food or containers. Take care to avoid splashing or inhaling food when discarding it. Avoid contact with the skin or eyes. Sponges, cloths, rags and gloves that may have come into contact with contaminated food or containers should be discarded with the food.
Specific instructions for handling non-disposable containers and surfaces that may have come in contact with the food are provided at the following web page: http://www.cdc.gov/botulism/botulism_faq.htm.
Informing Employees and Consumers of Recall
Employees should be informed of the hazard associated with the recalled products. Signs should be posted on removed recalled products to inform employees on all shifts that the product is hazardous and being held for disposal.
Store employees should alert consumers to the recall and the serious health hazard associated with exposure to the toxin. Consider posting signs on shelves and elsewhere in the store, and using other means of shopper notification to warn consumers not to open, taste or eat the recalled products. Inform consumers that any recalled products in their homes should be discarded carefully. More information for consumers is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/botulism/botulism_faq.htm.
Recall Audit Checks
Distribution centers and retail food stores may be visited by Federal, state or local officials conducting checks to determine the extent to which recalled product is being taken out of circulation. These officials will ask questions about the recall notification received, actions taken as a result of the notification, and status of recalled product in your establishment.
Questions
Castleberry Food Company recommends that consumers with any questions or concerns about this recall visit the company’s website ( http://www.castleberrys.com/ ) or call its consumer hotline at 1-800-203-4412 or 1-888-203-8446.
Consumers and others with questions can also call FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).
Additional information is available at
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01670.html
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_033_2007_expanded/index.asp
Complete List of Products Included in July 2007 Recall
Austex Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030097101)
Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030099533)
Austex Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030090815)
Austex Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030091015)
Austex Chili With Beans, 19 oz can (UPC 3030092519)
Austex Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030097715)
Austex Chili No Beans, 19 oz can (UPC 3030097719)
Best Yet Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4217841082)
Best Yet Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4218740842)
Big Y Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480424)
Big Y Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480225)
Big Y Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1889480425)
Black Rock Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001715)
Bloom Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 2543992448)
Bryan Hot Dog Chili Sauce With Beef, 10 oz can (UPC 5340030010)
Bryan Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030110)
Bryan Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030200)
Bryan Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 5340030205)
Bryan Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 5340035264)
Bunker Hill Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604152)
Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604112)
Bunker Hill Spicier Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 7526604224)
Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000101)
Castleberry’s Onion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030007101)
Castleberry’s Brunswick Stew Chicken & Beef, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000315)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000402)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork, 14.5 oz can (UPC 3030000415)
Castleberry’s Barbecue Beef, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000602)
Castleberry’s Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000815)
Castleberry’s Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000915)
Castleberry’s Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001015)
Castleberry’s Sausage Gravy, 10 oz can (UPC 3030005130)
Castleberry’s Creamed Chip Beef Gravy, 10 oz can (UPC 3030005150)
Castleberry’s Hot Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030007217)
Castleberry’s Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 3030007701)
Castleberry’s Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030007715)
Castleberry’s Georgia Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3030000215)
Cattle Drive Beef Stew, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001530)
Cattle Drive Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001520)
Cattle Drive Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001525)
Cattle Drive Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030001515)
Firefighters Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7372500413)
Firefighters Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 737250041)
Firefighters Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7372500412)
Food Club Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080204)
Food Club Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080404)
Food Club Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3680080504)
Food Lion Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3582606911)
Goldstar Original Chili, 10oz can (UPC 2457500001)
Goldstar Chili, 15oz can (UPC 2457500005)
Goldstar Tex-Mex Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 2457500008)
Great Value Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 8113179994) Canada Distribution Only
Great Value Hot Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 8113179995) Canada Distribution Only
Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 1111083942)
Kroger Beef Stew, 15oz can (UPC 1111083928)
Kroger Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1111083930)
Kroger Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1111083908)
Lowes Foods Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301092)
Lowes Foods Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301094)
Lowes Foods Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4164301097)
Meijer Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 4125085862)
Meijer Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095220)
Meijer Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095221)
Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4125095229)
Morton House Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665829)
Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665830)
Morton House Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526665993)
Paramount Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 7526600510)
Paramount Chili for Hot Dogs, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600526)
Paramount Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600731)
Paramount Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 7526600732)
Piggly Wiggly Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037252)
Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037354)
Piggly Wiggly Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 4129037355)
Piggly Wiggly Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4129037357)
Prudence Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 4114100015)
Southern Home Chili No Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 3825948713)
Southern Home Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015340)
Southern Home Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015341)
Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (UPC 0788015359)
Steak n Shake Chili With Beans, 10 oz can (UPC 5184400120)
Thrifty Maid Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 2114021367)
Thrifty Maid Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (2114021370)
Thrifty Maid Corned Beef Hash, 15 oz can (2114021375)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005801)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005804)
Triple Bar Ranch Chili No Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 3030005805)
Value Time Beef and Chicken Chili With Beans, 15 oz can (UPC 1122542159)
In addition, the following canned Natural Balance brand pet food products, which Castleberry Food Company co-packs for Natural Balance, are being recalled. These are:
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Irish Stew With Beef, Potatoes & Carrots,
15 oz can (UPC 2363359860)Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Chinese Take Out With Sauce With Vegetables and Chicken, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359861)
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs HOBO Chili With Chicken & Pasta,
15 oz can (UPC 2363359863)Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Southern Style Dumplings With Chicken & Vegetables, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359862)
A special webpage was developed for this outbreak/recall. Please refer to http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/castleberry.html
Please note: The UPC codes for a few of the products originally posted on the Castleberry, FDA and USDA websites and in the retail outreach message that was sent out earlier in .pdf form did not match up to the products identified. The UPC codes for all recalled products listed on the website should now be accurate. It appears that some of the previously listed UPC codes reflected case or lot codes rather than product codes.
The website mentioned above lists all the products in the recall and is updated as needed. The state and local inspectors could print out a hard copy of these products and use it as a tool to share this issue with the all retailers they inspect also. This way if they should happen to run across one of the recalled products on the shelves during their inspections, they could bring it to the management's attention.
Thanks for your assistance.
