The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that New Era Canning Company, New Era, Mich., is expanding its product recall because of potential Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) contamination to all canned green beans and garbanzo beans distributed by the company nationwide over the last five years.
Symptoms of botulism may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. Botulism poisoning also can cause paralysis of the breathing muscles, which can result in death unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided.
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 risk to health.
New Era took this voluntary action in the interest of public health in accordance with FDA's recall request. The company is taking immediate action to retrieve all inventories of the products throughout the distribution chain, including consumers' homes, nursing homes, schools, warehouses, restaurants, retail stores, health care facilities, and other facilities.
For specific brands and codes of green beans and garbanzo beans that are subject to this recall, consumers and retailers can access this information at the following link: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/newera.html. Please note that New Era produces canned products under other brand names and labels. Therefore, the recalled products may not necessarily be labeled with New Era's name. Also, the cans may bear a variety of product codes or no codes at all.
Any food that may contain the recalled canned beans should be disposed of carefully. Even tiny amounts of the C. botulinum toxin can cause serious illness when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the eye or a break in the skin. Skin contact should be avoided as much as possible, and hands should be washed immediately after handling the food.
FDA and the Michigan Department of Agriculture launched a joint investigation of New Era's processing plant. This investigation resulted in the identification of C. botulinum contamination in several lots of canned green beans and one lot of garbanzo beans, the identification of serious food violations, and this expanded recall.
Original findings of this investigation resulted in the company voluntarily recalling green beans in December 2007, and green beans, Mexican-style chili beans, and dark red kidney beans in January.
FDA initiated the inspection at New Era, along with inspections of other low acid canned food (LACF) manufacturers, following four cases of botulism in consumers who had consumed canned hot dog chili sauce in the summer of 2007. In light of these botulism cases, FDA increased its inspection efforts to assure that manufacturers of all types of LACF products are adhering to applicable FDA requirements. These actions illustrate the need for companies to operate under adequate preventive control systems.
As part of the ongoing investigation, FDA issued an Order of Need for Emergency Permit to New Era. This order prohibits the manufacture and shipment of the company's low acid canned foods across state lines until they demonstrate to FDA's satisfaction that the products are safe. In addition, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, under its state authority, has embargoed New Era's entire inventory of low acid canned products contained in the company's warehouses in Michigan. As a result, New Era is not currently distributing any products.