HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

WARNING TO CONSUMERS NOT TO DRINK CERTAIN BRANDS OF CARROT JUICE MADE BY BOLTHOUSE FARMS, CALIFORNIA DUE TO BOTULISM CONCERNS

Related Alerts:  2006-10-07 | 2006-09-30

OTTAWA, September 30, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning consumers not to drink certain brands of carrot juice described below due to botulism concerns.

The following products are affected by this alert:

1. "Bolthouse Farms 100% Carrot Juice", sold in both 1 liter and 450 millilitre sizes
2. "Earthbound Farm Organic Carrot Juice", sold in both 1 liter and 450 millilitre sizes
3. “President's Choice Organics 100% Pure Carrot Juice" sold in both 1 liter and 450 millilitre sizes.

Products bearing "BEST BY" OR BEST IF USED BY "BIUB" dates of 06NO11 (NOV 11 2006) or earlier are affected.

The manufacturer, Wm. Bolthouse Farms Inc., Bakersfield, California is voluntarily recalling the affected brands of carrot juice. These products may have been distributed across Canada.

Consumers should discard these products. There have been no reported illnesses in Canada.

In the USA four cases of botulism poisoning have been reported. It is also reported that one link between the illness and the consumers appears to be that the juice they drank was not properly refrigerated once it was in the home, which allowed the Clostridium botulinum spores to grow and produce toxin. Other possible links are being investigated in the USA.

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.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on Clostridium botulinum, visit the Food Facts web page at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml.

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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Media enquiries:

• Fact Sheet - Safe Handling of Refrigerated Vegetable Juices