Recall Advisory Issued for Long-Term
Food Storage Items

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is advising people with long-term food storage pantries to check for recalled food items because of the potential for Botulism contamination.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 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. C. botulinum can cause botulism, a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition. The affected cans are large institutional-sized containers, weighing approximately six and a half pounds.

UDAF inspectors have found none of the products on store shelves in Utah, but because the product distribution spans the past five years, and the large size of the cans, it is possible some of the canned beans may be in long-term food storage pantries.

“We want to emphasize that we do not believe any of the recalled products are on store shelves today. We are issuing our advisory to people who may have purchased the canned beans up to five years ago,” said Regulatory Services Director, Richard Clark.

If consumers find any of the recalled products they are advised to double bag the cans and throw them away.

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

Additional instructions for safe disposal may be found at:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/botulism_g.htm

Access more information on this recall at:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01782.html
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/newera201_08.html

Anyone with questions may call FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD.

Posted January 23, 2008