Government finds danger of botulism in bottled beef, chicken sold by individual

Unlabeled bottled beef and chicken is being recalled because government tests showed a risk of the toxin that causes botulism poisoning.

Produced by a man on Prince Edward Island in Canada, the bottled chicken and bottled beef do not have any identifying marks or labels.

Robert Waite of Tignish, Prince Edward Island, Canada, sold the bottled beef and chicken directly to consumers via classified ads in newspapers, according to the recall notice posted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

“This warning was triggered by CFIA test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of these or other products,” the recall notice states.

The CFIA is urging people to check their homes for the beef and chicken products and throw them away immediately if they have them on hand.

As of the posting of the recall notice there hadn’t been any reported illness related to the recalled products.

Brand Common Name Size UPC Codes on Product Additional Info
None – made by Robert Waite,
Tignish, PEI
Bottled Beef
(no label)
500 mL
(sold in Mason Jars)
None All units sold up to and including Nov. 26, 2020 Sold through classified ads in Prince Edward Island newspapers
None – made by Robert Waite,
Tignish, PEI
Bottled Chicken
(no label)
500 mL
(sold in Mason Jars)
None All units sold up to and including Nov. 26, 2020 Sold through classified ads in Prince Edward Island newspapers

About botulism

While a variety of illnesses can result from eating under-processed food, one of the most dangerous is botulism poisoning. Untreated, botulism can paralyze the muscles needed for breathing, resulting in sudden death.

Anyone who has eaten any recalled products and developed signs of botulism poisoning should immediately seek medical attention, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, symptoms can begin as soon as 6 hours after or up to 10 days later,” according to the CDC website.

The symptoms of botulism may include some of all of the following: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, a thick-feeling tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. People with botulism poisoning may not show all of these symptoms at once.

These symptoms result from muscle paralysis caused by the toxin. If untreated, the disease may progress, and symptoms may worsen to cause paralysis of specific muscles, including those used in breathing and those in the arms, legs, and the body from the neck to the pelvis area.

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