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UPDATED 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, October 7, 2006 - The public warning issued on September 30, 2006 has been updated to include additional information.

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

The CFIA is also reminding all retailers and food service establishments who sell carrot juice to ensure that the affected products are not for sale.

All distributed codes of 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.

Consumers should discard these products in closed bottles.

Two botulism cases in Toronto are now confirmed to be associated with consumption of the affected carrot juice. In the USA four cases of botulism poisoning have also been reported. The presence of botulinum toxin has been identified in carrot juice remaining in the bottles associated with botulism cases in Canada and 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.

The manufacturer, Wm. Bolthouse Farms Inc.., Bakersfield, California has voluntarily recalled the affected brands. The Canadian importers have also voluntarily recalled these brands of carrot juice.

The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls. These products have been distributed across Canada.

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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• Fact Sheet - Safe Handling of Refrigerated Vegetable Juices

• Fact Sheet: Food Safety Facts on Botulism
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