Baby Food Recall: A Baby Food Batch Contamination Feared by Plum Organics

A baby food recall of Plum Organics is announced. A baby food recall is serious, as this baby food recall could lead to botulism in infants. Plum Organics baby food, which has been recalled, is sold at Babies R Us and Toys R Us locations.

The baby food recall covers apple and carrot pouch foods made by Plum Organics and sold at Toys R Us and Babies R Us. The reason that Plum Organics gave for the baby food recall is that they fear that some of the baby food has been contaminated with a lethal toxin called botulism.

Luckily, no babies have fallen ill from the potentially tainted apple and carrot pouch foods made by Plum Organics. Botulism is a very serious toxin, and is very fatal.

For the most part, botulism comes from inadequately canned foods. Typically, these foods are canned in the home. In order to avoid botulism, precautions must be made to ensure that a batch of canned food is adequately sterilized. Furthermore, heating food thoroughly - particularly home-canned foods - will help prevent botulism poisoning as well.

If botulism is spotted quick enough, then anti-toxins can be administered to counteract the toxin's effects. The first symptoms of botulism that manifest are nausea and vomiting, followed by fatigue, blurry vision, and general weakness.

Plum Organics, the maker of the baby food that has been recalled, is an environmentally conscious company. They make organic baby foods, which are typically seen as "healthier", particularly by parents who want their children to have only natural foods.

As mentioned before, there are no victims of the current baby food recall. No infants have fallen ill and Plum Organics issued the baby food recall as a precaution. For the most part, recalls of baby formula or baby food are rare.

Other than the Plum Organics baby food recall, the most recent baby food recalls are as follows:

March, 2008: President's Choice Organics Pear Juice from Concentrate for Toddlers and Beech Nut Pear Juice from Concentrate with Vitamin C added were recalled. This baby food recall was issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

June, 2007: Robert's American Gourmet Veggie Booty snack food was recalled because of an outbreak of salmonellosis. Although this is not a baby food, many parents give toddlers Veggie Booty snacks as treats. Many of those who fell ill from Veggie Booty were toddlers.

February, 2007: Earth's Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast baby food was recalled because of botulism.

Parents need to be careful of what they feed their children. Make sure to keep an eye out for any information on baby food recalls. If your child acts strange after eating something, don't hesitate to call your doctor. That's what they are there for - to check on your babies and keep them healthy.

Sources:

Post Chronicle.com "Plum Organics Baby Food Recall: Botulism Contamination Fear" http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212262895.shtml#

Post Chronicle.com "Botulism"

About.com "Baby Food and Baby Formula Recalls" http://babyproducts.about.com/od/recallsandsafety/a/formula_recalls.htm