FDA report blames managers at food plant in Augusta

A report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration blames managers of the Castleberry's food plant in Augusta for a botulism outbreak last year.

The report says managers failed to correct ongoing deficiencies there.

It says as a result, the botulism toxin made its way into the company's canned chili sauce.

In all, the food sickened eight people, prompting a nationwide recall.

The report also blames limits on federal oversight, according to an article in the newspaper USAToday. It says inspectors from both the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to detect the problems with cooking equipment for five months before the outbreak.

Castleberry's disputes the allegations of poor management and maintenance, blaming the design of the cooking equipment.

Castleberry's has corrected the problems that led to the botulism outbreak.

The company has since re-opened.