AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

2007 NH "Dear Administrator" Letters

August 10, 2007

ADSA: NH #2007-018
Recall of castleberry’s FOOD COMPANY PRODUCTS

Dear Nursing Facility/Home Administrator:

This letter is to remind you of your general responsibility to ensure that a resident’s health and safety needs are met. This includes being aware of any food recalls or alerts of unsafe food.

You may have seen recent news items about the recall of unsafe food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has contacted Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services about a recall of human and pet food products produced by Castleberry Foods.

The FDA is warning people not to eat certain canned food products or to serve certain dog food produced by Castleberry’s Food Company of Augusta, Georgia. This food is suspected to have possible botulism contamination. Food produced by this company includes over 90 products and 27 brands of food such as canned chili products, stew, hash, BBQ, gravy, and pet food.

Food service directors or their designees should check their food pantries and dispose of any recalled products immediately. You may be asked about this during your next survey.

You are responsible for keeping updated on this recall information. To access the most recent information and view an archive of information provided to-date, visit the FDA web site.

If you have any questions related to survey, please contact your RCS Field Manager.

If you have any health questions, contact your local health department at the number listed in your phone directory.

Sincerely,

Joyce Pashley Stockwell, Director
Residential Care Services