August 3, 2007
Dozens of Mecklenburg County
Environmental Health specialists have joined the N.C. Department of Agriculture in an expanded effort to find potentially harmful food items still on store shelves. The items have been recalled by federal health officials.
Dozens of Mecklenburg County specialists have joined the N.C. Department of Agriculture in an expanded effort to find potentially harmful food items still on store shelves. The items have been recalled by federal health officials.
The products include more than 25 brands of canned chili, chili sauce, beef stew, hash and some flavors of dog food produced by the Castleberry's Food Company of Augusta, GA. A
complete list of products, their identification codes and procedures on the safe disposal of these items can be found at
www.meckhealth.org
or the
USDA. Watch the local
press conference with Dr. Keener and Lynn Lathan, Environmental Health Supervisor.
During the past week, inspectors with the N.C. Department of Agriculture have discovered and removed more than 10,000 cans, potentially contaminated with botulism, still available for sale to the public. Read
NC Department of Agriculture press release .
"As a result of the State Department of Agriculture findings, it has become apparent that a more thorough check of thousands of convenience stores, daycares, food pantries and even pet stores is essential. Our goal is to ensure the residents of Mecklenburg County are safe from this potential hazard," said Dr. Stephen Keener, Medical Director for the Health Department.
Health Department staff will note any outlet still offering the product, inform store management of the situation, and ask them to immediately remove the items from the sales floor. As any of these items can be potentially deadly, part of the process will include education of store staff and management on proper handling and disposal procedures.
Consumers with questions about the Castleberry's recall can call the North Carolina Department of Agriculture at
919-733-7366 or the
Castleberry's Hotline at
1-800-203-4412 or
1-888-203-8446.