Health Highlights: Dec. 23, 2007

The institutional sized 6-pound, 5-ounce cans were sold at GFS Marketplace stores in 11 states. They were labeled with lot code 19H7FL and UPC code 93901 11873. To date, the FDA said it has no reports of illness from the recalled product, manufactured by the New Era Canning Co., of New Era, Mich.

The product may be contaminated withC botulinumbacteria, which produce a toxin that could lead to life-threatening illness or death. Consumers or institutions who have cans involved in the recall should carefully double-bag the cans in plastic bags and dispose of them, the FDA said. Even tiny amounts of the bacterium that is accidentally ingested, inhaled or absorbed through cuts in the skin could cause serious illness. Hands should be washed immediately after handling affected cans, whether opened or not.

New Era is recalling 171 cases of the beans, and the FDA said it is working with the company and the Michigan Department of Agriculture to determine if additional cans may be involved.

The recalled beans were distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The FDA said it doesn't believe the beans were initially distributed outside the United States.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning can start from six hours to two weeks after contaminated food is eaten. Warning signs may include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness that feels like it is traveling down the body. Botulism poisoning also can cause paralysis of the breathing muscles.

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

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USDA Issues Alert For Tainted Beef Possibly Sold at Safeway

Federal health officials issued a public health alert for ground beef that may have been tainted with multi-drug resistant salmonella and sold at Safeway Inc. stores in five states between Sept. 19 and Nov. 5.

A news release from the USDA stressed that these products are not still available for sale, but consumers who may have bought the beef and stored in the freezer for later use should discard or destroy it if they find it.

The five states the beef was sold in were Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico.

The alert was issued on Thursday following a CDC investigation that determined there was an association between the beef products and 38 illnesses reported in Arizona (16); California (18); Idaho (1); and Nevada (3). After an exhaustive search, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service was unable to track down specific lots or shipments that might have been contaminated with salmonella Newport, the release said.