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The recalled product was sold in six-ounce jars.
Photo courtesy Vancouver Coastal Health
Paralytic food poisoning warning issued
Published 10:08 PST, Fri November 9, 2018
Last Updated: 2:12 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021
Vancouver Coastal Health has issued the
following warning: “Betty's King Sauce is considered unsafe because of the
potential to grow Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Sales have been online from
various social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook) and through a public
website dating back to 2014. Customers are being advised to discard the
product.”
The warning continues: “Inspectors discovered
that the product is being produced in a person's home in Richmond, which is not
an approved and inspected facility, and the ingredients and processing method
could allow for the growth of the harmful bacteria. The processor has been
advised to cease production. No illnesses have been linked to the product at
this time. It is unknown whether the person makes any other food products.”
The bacteria that causes botulism poisoning,
Clostridium botulinum, is everywhere. Eating the actual bacteria won’t hurt
healthy adults. The strong acid in their stomach keeps it from growing. But, just as yeast produced alcohol
when it grows, when the bacteria grows where there is little acid and no air,
such as in some home canned foods, it produces a highly toxic nerve poison. A
few billionths of a gram can kill a human. It is estimated one gram of botulism
toxin could kill a million people.
The bacteria that makes the botulism poison
is hardy. That is why low-acid foods must be pressured canned at a specific
heat, pressure and time to ensure it will stay safe to eat. Even in the old
days of the multiple salmon canneries in Steveston, the fish was pressured
canned to ensure its safety.
The other people who have to be careful of
botulism poisoning are babies. Their stomachs have such weak acid that the
bacteria, normally killed by strong stomach acid, can actually grow inside
them, producing the poison. For that reason, children under one year of age are
not to be given honey or corn syrup as it may contain the Clostridium botulinum
spores.
While the symptoms of botulism poisoning may
at first seem like ordinary food poisoning, the toxin can cause tingling of the
lips, double vision and drooping eye lids.
Vancouver Coastal Health says, “Clostridium
botulinum toxin in food or beverages can cause foodborne botulism, which is an
extremely rare but potentially life-threatening bacterial illness. Food
contaminated with the toxin may not look or smell spoiled, but when ingested
can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dry throat, respiratory
failure or paralysis. Most people with botulism develop symptoms 12 to 36 hours
after consuming contaminated food.”
Further information is available on the BC
Centre for Disease Control website.
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