Italian beans in botulism scare - Brief Article

Eurofood, Feb 1, 2001

Tins of beans from an Italian organic producer have been involved in a food scare in Canada - for the second time in a year. Last May, cans of pinto and kidney beans, manufactured by Lockwoods in Italy, were recalled after officials of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)found there to be a possibility of contamination by the bacteria which causes botulism.

A recall was ordered of the two pallets of the two different varieties of beans. Most had not been despatched. However, some were despatched last month in what has been acknowledged as a mistake by the importers, Green House Organic Food Products, of Concord, Ontario. A fresh recall notice, and a warning to the public, was issued by the CFIA. The Clostridium botulinum bacteria had not been found in the original check, a CFIA spokesman told us. But several cans were found to be leaking, and in their experience there was the potential for contamination. The authority said it took a serious view of this, as botulism is a life-threatening illness. The spokesman stressed this was not a problem peculiar to organics, but organic products were not immune.