Periodically, the Health Department will post food recall announcements when the recall affects Richland County food items or grocery stores, is an Ohio or national recall, or involves a foodborne illness outbreak.

For food recalls that are active, we suggest the following link to the FDA recall site:

Click Here for Official Notice Site: www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- New Era, MI – January 18, 2008
New Era Canning Company Announces New Nationwide Recall of Green Beans and Garbanzo Beans in #10 cans (6 to 7 pound cans); Contact: Linda Miller, 1-800-282-9007 Ext 111

New Era Canning Company of New Era, Michigan is recalling all cans of green beans and garbanzo beans in #10 cans (large cans containing between 6 and 7 pounds) because they may have been processed under conditions which could have led to contamination by Clostridium botulinum bacterium spores, which can cause life-threatening illness or death. The codes on the affected product begin with the numbers “00249,” or the letters “GREEN” or “GARB”. This recall does not include Italian Green Beans because that is a different product.

In Richland County, return GFS brand, Distributed by Gordon Food Service, Grand Rapids, MI
Fancy Blue Lake cut green beans, 4 sieve (green beans, water, salt) in 6 lb. 5 oz. cans, reorder no. 118737 (UPC 9390111873).
Cut Blue Lake green beans, mixed sieve, (green beans, water, salt) in 6 lb. 5 oz. cans, reorder no. 273856 (UPC 9390127385).

Clostridium botulinum bacterium spores have the potential for growth that produces a toxin that causes a potentially fatal form of food poisoning - botulism. Symptoms of botulism poisoning in humans can begin from 6 hours to 2 weeks after eating food that contains the toxin. Symptoms may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body, affecting the shoulders first, then descending to the upper arms, lower arms, thighs, and calves. Botulism poisoning also can cause paralysis of the breathing muscles, which can result in death unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided. Individuals who have these symptoms and who may have recently eaten the green beans or garbanzo beans currently under recall or other food products made with these items should seek immediate medical attention.

The issues were uncovered in a FDA inspection of products that were in the company’s possession. NO product has tested positive for the toxin and there have been NO cases of botulism reported from these products.

This recall only affects the products in the large #10 cans, the majority of which were potentially sold nationwide to various food service customers. However these products may also have been purchased by consumers at retail stores. The code on the cans may be embossed (stamped into the metal of the can) or printed in ink on one of the metal can ends.

Examples of how a code may appear on a can of green beans are: "00249 2BH7FL", "00249 1515 2BH7FL", "GREEN 2BH7FL" or "GREEN 1515 2BH7FL". (These are not necessarily actual can codes).

Examples of how a code may appear on a can of garbanzo beans are: "00249 34F7LG", "00249 1515 34F7LG", "GARB 34F7LG" or "GARB 1515 34F7LG". (These are not necessarily actual can codes).

New Era Canning, in conjunction with the US Food and Drug Administration and the Michigan Department of Agriculture, is thoroughly evaluating all processes and procedures to determine the cause of the problem.