DEADLY BOTULISM IN HUMAN AND PET FOODS!

Nel Liquorman, TheDogPress Health Editor | July 2007

Is the meat used in chili, stew, and other human-quality canned goods the same low grade as is used in pet foods? One of the deadliest of all known toxins has just slipped through processing.

At press time 23 states are involved in the recall which began July 19th 2007. Castleberry Food Company of Augusta, GA, owned by Bumble Bee Foods, LLC began a recall of 721,389 pounds of canned meat products containing Clostridium botulinum.

Commonly known as botulism, symptoms of nerve toxin are paralysis, respiratory failure, and often, death. Early symptoms range from nausea, vomiting, double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. Symptoms usually start within 18 to 36 hours but may begin in as little as 6 hours. More troubling and apt to be misdiagnosed, effects can be delayed up to 10 days.

In addition to publicized human foods, NATURAL BALANCE DOG FOOD products included in this ongoing recall are:

● Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Irish Stew With Beef, Potatoes & Carrots, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359860)
● Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Chinese Take Out With Sauce With Vegetables and Chicken, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359861)
● Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs HOBO Chili With Chicken & Pasta, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359863)
● Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Southern Style Dumplings With Chicken & Vegetables, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359862)

Labels included in addition to Castleberry are: Austex, Best Yet, Big Y, Black Rock, Bloom, Bryan, Bunker Hill, Cattle Drive, Firefighters, Food Club, Food Lion, Goldstar, Great Value, Kroger, Lowes, Meijer, Morton House, Paramount, Prudence, Piggly Wiggly, Southern Home, Steak n Shake, Thrifty Maid, Triple Bar Ranch, and Value Time.

Following the recent pet deaths attributed to contaminated wheat gluten from Communist China, this recall may indicate that the entire food industry has or will take more responsibility to insure food safety. Regulatory agencies have been aware of the risks for decades but until recently, it was not public knowledge. This publication speculated that poisonous wheat and rice gluten were only the tip of the iceberg.

It was only while investigating botulism in Indiana and Texas that an equipment malfunction was discovered. The investigation was by a government agency and we must wonder whether manufacturers only fix problems after someone else identifies them? Does this recall reveal a connection between human and pet food quality foods? What do processors do to prevent cross-contamination? Important questions for which we are seeking reliable answers!