SEOUL — Base residents are being warned to carefully check their home food supplies to ensure they don’t eat recently recalled Castleberry Food Co. products that are at the heart of a U.S.-wide botulism scare.
Meanwhile, Nissin Foods, the company that makes Cup Noodles, announced the recall of some shrimp-flavored noodle products after discovering the seafood-flavored powder contains cod and lobster, according to a recent Defense Commissary Agency news release.
Five “potentially contaminated” Castleberry products were sold in DeCA stores in South Korea, according to a U.S. Forces Korea news release issued Saturday.
USFK food inspectors cleared those products from commissary shelves following July 18 and July 21 recalls, and no on-base botulism cases have been reported, according to the statement.
At least five people have been hospitalized in the United States after eating recalled products, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the recall could include “tens of millions” of cans.
“Given the potentially fatal effects of botulism poisoning … consumers need to carefully check their pantries and cupboards and dispose of any recalled product immediately,” the FDA said Friday.
Commissary officials from Japan and Okinawa could not be reached by press time.
However, on Wednesday, DeCA’s Web site released a food alert stating that “commissaries are checking their inventories for the listed items and removing recalled products from their shelves.”
The concern with the Nissin Foods is with people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to cod or lobster and may run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction should they consume these specific shrimp-flavored products.
“We have not received any report that any person has suffered any allergic reaction as a result of consuming these products,” Nissin Foods President Tak Naruto stated in an FDA news release. “We have taken this quick action, however, because Nissin’s top priority is now and has always been the safety and health of its customers.”
For the Nissin products, commissary patrons can receive refunds and supplemental coupons by sending the UPC Code to: 2001 W. Rosecrans Ave.; Gardena, Calif. 90249.
Do you have these products?
The following Castleberry items were removed from commissaries in South Korea:
¶ Chili no Beans, 10-ounce, UPC: 30300 07701¶ Chili no Beans, 15-ounce, UPC: 30300 07715¶ Chili with Beans, 15-ounce, UPC: 30300 01015¶ Hotdog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce, UPC: 30300 07218¶ Hotdog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce, UPC: 30300 00101See a full list of other recalled Castleberry items here.
Commissary officials said they were working to pull the following Nissin Foods items:
¶ Cup Noodles Shrimp, UPC: 70662–03002¶ Cup of Noodle with Shrimp (six–pack), UPC: 070662–03502¶ Original Chow–Mein Shrimp, UPC: 70662- 08722Contact Nissin Foods at 1-866-548-2945 or visit www.nissinfoods.com for more information.If so, here’s how to get rid of them
Food and Drug Administration officials stress safety when disposing of the recalled products and suggest these guidelines:
¶ Do not open or puncture any unopened can of the recalled product.
¶ Place recalled cans in a sealed bag, wrap in a second bag and tape them together tightly. Place the bags in the nonrecyclable trash and out of reach of people or pets.
¶ If a can has already been opened, wear latex gloves, avoid splashing and contact with the skin. Do not discard the food in a sink, garbage disposal or toilet.
¶ Wash hands with soap and water for at least two minutes after handling food or containers that might be contaminated.
¶ Clean up spills using a solution of one-quarter cup of bleach to 2 cups of water. Cover the spill with the solution, place 5-10 paper towels on the spill and let them sit there for at least 15 minutes. Clean the area with liquid soap and water.
¶ All sponges, clothing and gloves that might have come in contact with contaminated food or containers should be discarded in the same matter as the food.
