The California Department of Public Health warned consumers on Thursday not to eat Healdsburg Pickling Company jarred food products because they may have been improperly produced, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium Botulinum. Ingestion of botulism toxin from improperly processed jarred and canned foods may lead to serious illness and death. No illnesses have been linked to any of the affected products at this time. Healdsburg Pickling Company of Healdsburg, CA, is voluntarily recalling the following varieties of jarred food products: Pickles, Pickled Green Beans and Pickled Carrots. These food products were sold under the Healdsburg Pickling Company label and packaged in quart and pint glass jars with screw-on metal lids. The product labels do not include any coding or “use by” dates. The recalled food products were only sold at: • The Cheese Shop, 423 Center St., Healdsburg, CA • Perry’s Deli, 12301 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Inverness Park, CA Consumers in possession of the recalled products should discard them. Botulism toxin is odorless and colorless. Cooking the products will not inactivate any toxin that is present. Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The initial symptoms frequently experienced are double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, and dry or sore throat. Progressive descending paralysis, usually symmetrical, may follow. Additional symptoms may include slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, inability of the neck muscles to support the head, and paralysis of the extremities and respiratory muscles may occur. Infants with botulism appear lethargic, feed poorly, are constipated, have a weak cry and poor muscle tone. Consumers experiencing any ill effects after consuming these products should consult their health care provider. Consumers who observe the product being offered for sale are encouraged to report the activity to the department’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 495-3232.
