Rhode Island Department of Health

Advisories and Updates for Health Care Providers

Update: Foodborne Botulism Associated with Canned Chili Sauce

Date: 7/19/07

Public health officials in Indiana, Texas, and at CDC are investigating an outbreak of botulism associated with commercially-canned hot dog chili sauce. Foodborne botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by consuming foods that contain botulinum toxin, a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

CDC and FDA are advising persons not to eat 10 ounce cans of Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030000101), Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030099533), and Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 1111083942) with "best by" dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009, due to possible contamination with botulinum toxin. Other foods that should be discarded are cans of the recalled product with missing or unreadable "best by" dates, foods that may have been prepared with a recalled product, and canned hot dog chili sauce of an unknown brand.
As of July 18, 2007, four cases of botulism have been reported to CDC from Indiana (2 cases) and Texas (2 cases). Onset dates range from June 29 to July 9, 2007. All four persons were reported to have consumed Castleberry's brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original. Botulinum toxin was identified in leftover chili sauce collected from a patient's refrigerator.
CDC OutbreakNet (the network of epidemiologists and other public health officials, facilitated by CDC, who investigate outbreaks of foodborne, waterborne, and other enteric illnesses nationwide) staff shared this information with colleagues at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After being informed about the outbreak by the FDA, the company that manufactures Castleberry's brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce issued a voluntary recall <http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01669.html> on July 18, 2007.

Signs and symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Paralysis of the breathing muscles can lead to death unless prompt medical care is sought. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.

Persons with any of these symptoms who have eaten Castleberry's brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce or any of the recalled products are advised to immediately contact their health care provider.

Health care providers evaluating persons who have signs or symptoms of botulism should ask about consumption of chili sauce and should immediately notify their local or state health officials.

For further information visit www.cdc.gov and look for "Botulism" at the top of the webpage.