FDA Warns of Botulism Risk from Canned Beans

February 2008

UPDATED ALERT – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an expanded recall of New Era canned vegetables. New Era Canning Company is recalling all vegetables sold in six to seven pound quantities because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum which can lead to serious illness or death.

Consumers should examine the UPC label and lot code on all six to seven pound vegetable containers to determine whether or not the product is affected by the recall. The lot code may be embossed or printed in ink on one end of the can. If there is no lot code, dispose of the product immediately. Visit the FDA's complete list of recalled New Era canned vegetables to view UPC labels, lot codes, and product descriptions.

New Era previously recalled canned green and garbanzo beans due to the risk of botulism contamination. Symptoms of botulism poisoning include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. Symptoms can begin from 6 hours to 2 weeks after ingestion of the toxin and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

January 2008

ORIGINAL RECALL ALERT – An urgent warning – check your canned beans as they may be contaminated with a potentially life-threatening botulism toxin. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a nationwide recall of canned green beans and garbanzo beans manufactured by New Era Canning Company of New Era, Michigan.

The recalled beans were distributed throughout the United States over the past five years and were sold in institutional-sized containers, weighing approximately six and a half pounds. New Era produces canned goods under a variety of different brand names and labels, therefore beans affected by the recall may not necessarily bear the New Era name. Visit the FDA's complete list of recalled New Era canned beans to view brand names and product descriptions.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning can begin anywhere from 6 hours to 2 weeks after the ingestion of contaminated food. Symptoms include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body. The condition can become deadly if not treated immediately.