A botulism warning for corn from the People’s Republic of China has been out since last Friday (Dec. 17) in Canada, and has now been expanded to include all product codes of the suspected product.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Yie Ming (Canada) Ltd., are warning the public not to consume Yu Yuan brand vacuum packed Sweet Glutinous Corn because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.
Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.
The affected product, Yu Yuan brand Sweet Glutinous Corn, is a single corn cob vacuum packed in a plastic bag that weighs approximately 300 grams.
The Sweet Glutinous Corn has a UPC 6 922474 188425. All codes of this product are affected by this alert. This product, imported from China, is not labeled in English and/or French.
This product was sold in British Columbia. Those who have eaten the imported corn product have not yet reported any illnesses or deaths.
Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled.
Consumption of food contaminated with the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
The importer, Yie Ming (Canada) Ltd., Vancouver, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.
