USDA Calls Castleberry’s Recall an “Urgent Public Health Matter”

WASHINGTON — A recall of canned meat products and dog food made at a Georgia plant due to botulism fears could involve tens of millions of cans that pose an urgent public health threat, U.S. officials said on Monday.

"This is a very big recall," David Elder of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's office of regulatory affairs told reporters, deeming it an "urgent public health matter."

The recall by Castleberry's originally affected 10 products. The expanded move involves more than 80 types of stew, chili, hash and other products as well as pet food sold under a variety of brand names.

Two people in Texas and two others in Indiana remain seriously ill and hospitalized with botulism poisoning associated with eating Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, officials said.

The company’s parent, Toronto-based Connors Bros. Income Fund, said it will keep the plant in Augusta, Georgia, closed until given the all-clear by health officials.

"Production will not resume until FDA is satisfied that all conditions that resulted in this recall and these dangerous products have been corrected," Elder said, adding that the FDA last inspected the plant in February.

Officials said 16 out of 17 cans that have been tested have turned up positive for the bacterium that causes botulism.

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