Food Safety Humor

FSPCA - Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance

Friday, February 15, 2019

Canada - Baby Food Recalled for Clostridium botulinum Concern

In Canada, Vivi and Tom, a small entrepreneurial baby food company is recalling a number of food items due to the the potential of Clostridium botulinum.  The product has no packaging codes.

According to the the Vivi and Tom Instagram page, the company was started by two mothers and formulated by a holistic nutritionist (which is probably one or both of them)  The product is sold with the 'local, seasonal, organic" marketing words that people love to hear, but was produced like they were making it for thier own kitchen....which is fine for them, but when you start to sell products to others, one has got to learn about the safe production of food.  When you start selling product for infants, it is even more important.

Clostridium botulinum for infants is a big deal.  While preformed toxin from Clostridium botulinum is bad, so is the presence of the organisms in the food where the organism has the opportunity to colonize the baby's intestinal tract...thus the reason we don't feed honey to babies.  With Canadian recall notices, we do not get a lot of information, so it is difficult to say what the exact reason was.

Food Recall Warning - Vivi and Tom Baby Food brand baby and toddler foods recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria
Recall date:  February 14, 2019
Reason for recall:  Microbiological - Clostridium botulinum
Hazard classification: Class 1
Company / Firm: Vivi and Tom Baby Food
Distribution: Ontario
Extent of the distribution: Retail


Recall details
Ottawa, February 14, 2019 - Vivi and Tom Baby Food is recalling various baby and toddler foods from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products
Brand Name  Common Name  Size  Code(s) on Product  UPC
Vivi & Tom  Beef Meatballs   N/A All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.  None
Vivi & Tom  Broccoli, Potato & Basil Purée  N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.  None
Vivi & Tom  Beef & Squash Purée   N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.  None
Vivi & Tom  Salmon & Mango Purée  N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.  None
Vivi & Tom  Chicken & Parsnip Purée  N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.  None
Vivi & Tom  Liver & Pear Purée  N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.  None
Vivi & Tom  Sweet Potato Applesauce  N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive. None
Vivi & Tom  Fish Cakes  N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.  None
Vivi & Tom  Chicken Meatballs  N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.  None
Vivi & Tom  Carrot, Peach & Apricot Purée  N/A
All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.
None
Vivi & Tom
Squash Bites  N/A  All product sold from November 22, 2018 to February 14, 2019, inclusive.
None
What you should do
If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.
Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.
Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.
Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.
Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
Learn more about the health risks
Sign up for recall notifications by email, follow us on Twitter, or join the CFIA community on Facebook
View our detailed explanation of the food safety investigation and recall process
Background
This recall was triggered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) inspection activities. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.
The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace.
Illnesses
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

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