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FDA ISSUES ‘URGENT’ WARNING ON OLIVES
In an unusual urgent warning, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday afternoon that a brand of imported olives may be contaminated with a deadly bacterium and should not be eaten, even if they do not appear to be spoiled.
The germ, Clostridium botulinum, may be present in olives produced by Charlie Brown di Rutigliano & Figli S.r.l of Bari, Italy. The company is recalling them. Affected brand names are: Borrelli, Bonta di Puglia, Cento, Corrado’s, Dal Raccolto, Flora, Roland and Varitia, the FDA said. All sizes of cans, glass jars and pouches of Cerignola, Norcerella and Castelvetrano types of olives are affected.
Botulinum toxin is a nerve poison often mentioned as a potential weapon of bioterrorism. Symptoms of botulism poisoning include general weakness, dizziness, double vision, constipation, muscle weakness and trouble speaking, swallowing or breathing.
For more on the warning, go to the FDA web site, www.fda.gov.
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