New botulism warning for canned green beans...

[Diabolique]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumers should not eat certain brands of French-cut green beans because of concerns they could be tainted with the toxin that causes botulism, U.S. health officials warned on Friday.

The green beans were manufactured by Lakeside Foods Inc. of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and packaged in 14.5-ounce cans, the Food and Drug Administration said.

The FDA said the beans may not have been processed adequately to eliminate the potential for botulinum toxin, which can cause a life-threatening illness.

"The canned green beans may cause botulism if consumed. FDA is providing this warning to make consumers aware of the possible risk of serious illness from eating these products," an FDA statement said.

Lakeside Foods said on Wednesday it was voluntarily recalling 15,000 cases of green beans because of the botulism concern. No botulinum toxin has been found in any cans that were tested, David Aggen, Lakeside's vice president of quality assurance and product safety, said in an interview on Friday.

The FDA said no illnesses had been reported due to consumption of the green beans as of August 1.

The green bean warning is unrelated to a recall last month of chili sauce, canned meat products and dog food made by Castleberry's Food Co., a unit of Connors Bros. Income Fund's Bumble Bee Foods division. Four people became seriously ill with botulism poisoning associated with eating Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, officials have said.

The FDA said the affected Lakeside French-cut green beans are sold nationwide under the brands Albertson's, Happy Harvest, Best Choice, Food Club, Bogopa, Valu Time, Hill Country Fare, HEB, Laura Lynn, Kroger, No Name, North Pride, Shop N Save, Shoppers Valu, Schnucks, Cub Foods, Dierbergs, Flavorite, IGA, Best Choice and Thrifty Maid.

The warning applies to cans with the following codes:

EAA5247, EAA5257, EAA5267, EAA5277, EAB5247, EAB5257, ECA5207,

ECA5217, ECA5227, ECA5297, ECB5207, ECB5217, ECB5227, ECB5307.

Consumers who have the products should dispose of them immediately, the FDA said.

Botulism symptoms include dizziness, double vision, difficulty in breathing and abdominal problems. People with those symptoms who may have eaten the recalled green beans should seek immediate medical attention, the FDA said.

[BlueMolly2006]

First of all, ewww, canned green beans. I'll have my green beans frozen or fresh. I've had canned green beans and they are gross.
But this is scary that they keep having these scares on food. You don't know what is good and what isn't.

[Vilji]

I agree, canned greenbeans, yuck.

I'll stick with fresh veges, and just wash them and take a chance.

[BlueMolly2006]

The only canned veggies I don't mind having is canned corn, and I'll only buy Green Giant.

[80's fanatic]

Thanks Ingrid for the warning. It is scary to think that just about anything that you eat nowadays can make you deathly sick. Consumers really have to pay attention to what they're buying.

[Nakor]

People with those symptoms who may have eaten the recalled green beans should seek immediate medical attention, the FDA said.

Shouldn't people with those symptoms seek immediate medical attention whether or not it's due to the green beans?

Either way, growing your own green beans works best. When buying veggies, I've always preferred the fresh option myself as well.

[BlueMolly2006]

Nakor, that's why I buy my veggies at a Harvest Market or at the local Coop. I know where the veggies come from. Also, if I go to my Mom's I usually get something from her garden. She grows her own tomatoes, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.

[Nakor]

Ah, if only! Actually, the climate here would be perfect for blueberry growing, but I understand the plants can be quite hard to control, if one isn't careful, taking over the area they're in, so not so good for smaller gardens. We mostly do veggies in our garden, although there are some raspberry plants along the side.

[Frong]

I'm pretty sure my mom only uses fresh green beans, too. The canned kind are just kinda... bleh compared to fresh ones. The only thing they're useful for is making green bean casserole, and I only eat that like once a year, on Thanksgiving. Not exactly a cause for concern.