FDA recalls vegetable cans due to potential botulism

An investigation has led to the recall of large vegetable cans that may have been processed under conditions that could lead to botulism, the FDA said Thursday.

The New Era Canning Company in Michigan made the six- to seven-pound No. 10 cans, which could be contaminated with spores that could cause the life-threatening illness, according to the FDA.

The cans were sold nationwide to various food services, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Symptoms can begin six hours to two weeks after consumption and include double vision, dropping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and muscle spasms, the FDA said.

Richard Green, director of nutrition services at Newport-Mesa School District had his staff hunt through their inventory to make sure there were no cans under the recall.

“We don’t have any of that product,” he said.

The FDA has not found any contaminated items to date, and there have been no reported cases of botulism from these products, according to the FDA.

More information, including lot codes of recalled cans, can be found at www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/ newera02_08.html.

— Daniel Tedford