Belle Grove brand Whole White Mushrooms Recalled in Canada Due to Potential Clostridium Botulinum contamination
Monaghan Mushrooms Ltd., in cooperation with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a recall on January 9th, 2020, for Belle Grove brand Whole White Mushrooms due to potential Clostridium botulinum contamination, which can lead to Botulism. The Whole White Mushrooms (227 g) were sold with “Best Before” date of January 15, 2020, with UPC code 8 87462 00000 3.
Consumers who have purchased the potentially toxic mushrooms are urged to not consume the product; rather dispose of it immediately or return it to the store of purchase for a full refund. As of a date, no illnesses have been reported due to the recalled mushrooms.
National Food Safety and Botulism Lawyer Ron Simon stated that, “While food infected with Clostridium botulinum may look and smell normal, it can still make you sick. If you believe you are suffering from Botulism, seek treatment immediately to prevent further side effects.”
Botulism is caused by bacteria, mainly Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium butyricum, and Clostridium baratii. As the toxin attacks the nervous system, those infected with botulism experience difficulty breathing, vision problems, and muscle spasms; botulism is often misdiagnosed due to the similarity in symptoms with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Symptoms in adults include weakness of the muscles that control the eyes, face, mouth, and throat, which can spread to the neck, arms, torso, and legs. In children, botulism symptoms include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. According to the CDC, symptoms of botulism typically begin 18 to 36 hours after ingestion of the bacteria, and if not treated properly, botulism can be deadly. Botulism is treated with antitoxin, a drug that prevents further damage by the toxic bacteria. However, antitoxin cannot heal any nerve damage. If you suspect you have the symptoms for botulism, immediately seek treatment.
