Recent Articles

Here Is An Update On the Ohio Family Fighting Botulism

Bill Marler
October 09, 2008 03:39

Bucyrus City Auditor Joyce Schifer gave this update on the Ohio family stricken by botulism poisoning from home-canning gone bad: "Joann Palm's family is still very sick from botulism poisoning. Her 15-year-old son is still in Akron's Children's Hospital and she is staying at the Ronald...

Ohio Family Gets Botulism From Home Canned Beans

Bill Marler
September 20, 2008 20:55

We've been passing along information on how to safely can at home, and here comes a story on why you really do have to be careful.  The Mansfield News Journal reported this week that: A Crestline man and his grandson remain in the hospital after coming down with food-bourne botulism last...

Final Victim of Botulism Outbreak: All 327 Castleberry Workers

Bill Marler
September 17, 2008 14:47

The Connors Brothers Income Fund has dumped (oh, sold) its Castleberry brands to Hanover Foods Corp. It means the 82-year old Castleberry canning factory in Augusta, GA will be closed with the next 60 days. The troubled canning factory was responsible for a botulism outbreak in late 2007. The...

Avoid Botulism, Do Not Make Mistakes While Canning

Bill Marler
September 11, 2008 21:26

Mistakes commonly made when pressure canning include: Taking “short cuts.” Recommended preparation and processing instructions should always be followed. Using jars not specifically designed for home canning. Commercial glass jars with screw-on lids should not be used when...

Irradiating Won't Eliminate The Botulism, But Will Get the Vitamin A!

Bill Marler
August 26, 2008 23:49

Tim Darragh of The Morning Call ponders the federal government decision to allow irradiation of some fresh produce, but points out one problem with the policy.  Go here for the complete column.  Darragh writes: Three years ago, the FDA sent a letter to lettuce growers, packers,...

New Investors May Bring Hope To New Era

Bill Marler
August 19, 2008 16:52

The Muskegon Chronicle today has a story about Michigan's New Era Canning Company's attempt to get back in business after botulism-related recalls forced its shut-down. Family-owned since it began in 1910, New Era wants to resume production.  Rick Ray, New Era's president and chief executive...

Connors Looks At Whether Or Not To Keep Castleberry's

Bill Marler
August 18, 2008 22:57

The Connors Brothers Income Fund, based in Canada, was not ready to say last week if it would keep its Augusta, GA canning factory for Castleberry's brands. Botulism poisoning in its chili cause forced the plant to shut down a year ago. Since its been back up and running, Connors said its was...

Washington State University Offers Helpful Advice To Home Canners

Bill Marler
August 14, 2008 22:13

Rebekah Denn writes a blog called Devouring sEATtle as part of her duties as a food writer at the Seattle Post Intelligencer.   She is out today with Free canning class - no botulism allowed. In addition to telling her readers about the canning class offered by the Washington State...

One Woman's Opinion; Funny But Not True

Bill Marler
August 05, 2008 00:41

Joan Rivers, age 75, says everybody should have Botox, the wrinkle-free injection for maintaining a youthful appearance. "Age has freed me to say whatever I want.  Everyone should do Botox. Botulism is everywhere - in the air we breathe. I always say a little botulism never hurt...

About Clostridium Botulinum - Botulism

Bill Marler
July 31, 2008 01:38

Botulism is a rare, life-threatening paralytic illness caused by neurotoxins produced by an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. Unlike Clostridium perfringens, which requires the ingestion of large numbers of viable cells to cause symptoms, the symptoms of...