Bolthouse Farms - Health Concerns - Carrot Botulism Outbreak

Carrot Botulism Outbreak

In September 2006, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered a recall of Bolthouse Farms "100 per cent Carrot Juice" and other Bolthouse Farms products because of several cases of botulism resulting from consumption of the products. On September 29, 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that Georgia residents not purchase Bolthouse Farms carrot juice and warned consumers not to purchase Bolthouse Farms products stale-dated November 11, 2006, or earlier.

The warning and the recalls were due to reported cases of consumption of the beverages resulting in six cases of botulism in the United States and Canada. Two cases in Toronto, Canada resulted in paralysis; three cases recorded in Georgia, United States resulted in respiratory failure, with the patients requiring ventilators; one case recorded in Florida resulted in hospitalization. The patient in Florida was last reported to be unresponsive since mid-September 2006.

In response, Bolthouse Farms said the people may have failed to properly refrigerate the products. The US Food and Drug Administration has since ruled the Bolthouse Farm's product as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Bolthouse Farms has subsequently released an FAQ regarding the event.