Island Soups Have Caribbean Flavor, Maybe Botulism

Modern canning techniques mean that the sale of food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum is very rare. However, some delicious-sounding Caribbean soups from the Island Soups Company have been recalled because a recent insoection by the Food and Drug Administration showed that they could potentially be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that gives off the botulinum toxin that causes the potentially fatal disease botulism.

To be clear, the products haven’t been proven to have the bacteria and no one has become sick. The problem, the FDA reports, is that an inspection showed that the facility where the soups are canned lacks valid process schedules or process documentation showing that the soups were processed in a way that prevents the soup jars from growing Clostridium botulinum.

The products that are part of this recall are:

Gungo Peas soup, 16 ounces
Gungo Peas soup (no meat), 16 ounces
Red Peas soup, 16 ounces
Red Peas soup (no meat), 16 ounces
Mannish Water, 16 ounces
Fish Soup, 16 ounces

The FDA announcement about the recall says that affected products were sold online, but the brand also sells in some retail stores in the New York City and Washington, DC metropolitan areas.

Take note of the symptoms of botulism, especially if you enjoy home-canned products: they include general weakness, dizziness, double vision, and trouble with speaking or swallowing. They can also experience constipation or a distended (swollen) abdomen if muscles in that area are affected.

Island Soups Company, Inc. Recalls Six Varieties of Island Soups Brand Products Because of Possible Contamination With Clostridium Botulinum [FDA]