Walker’s Wine Juice of Forestville, NY, has issued a recall for pumpkin juice because it poses a botulism risk. Consumers who have purchased this product should not consume it.
Botulism is a serious paralytic illness caused by nerve toxins created by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. If untreated, it is fatal.
Symptoms of botulism poisoning include dizziness, double-vision, trouble with speaking or swallowing, difficulty breathing, and muscle weakness. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
The product was sold at Walker’s Wine Juice retail store in NY and to commercial wineries in: IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MI, MN, NJ, NY, OH, PA, and WI.
The recall includes:
- 2.5-gallon bag in box, all lots
- 5-gallon hot packs, all lots
- 30-, 60-, and 275-gallon bulk containers are tagged “pumpkin”; All lots are subject to the recall
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The problem was discovered during an inspection by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets when Inspectors found that the pumpkin juice pH was too high and determined that no adequate kill step was used to address the possibility of microbiological hazards.
