Augusta food plant reopens

The Augusta food processing plant linked to a botulism outbreak this summer is set to reopen today. Castleberry Foods will re-start production, two months after the national botulism outbreak in July. Cans of hot dog chili sauce were connected to several cases of rare and potentially deadly botulism. Eight people in Ohio, Texas and Indiana were sickened by the product. Federal officials last week gave the plant the 'green light' to reopen its doors. The production line that made the hot dog chili will not be put back in operation just yet.

Castleberry Food shutdown presents problems for Augusta

Community activists in Augusta are worried that the temporary shutdown of Castleberry's Food plant could decimate the surrounding communities.

Surrounded by four housing projects in one of Augusta's rougher neighborhoods, the Castleberry's Food plant has become a beacon for jobs, food, and for a sense of hope in its impoverished community.

The plant has been temporarily shut down after it was linked to botulism in canned chili sauce.

Augusta food plant under investigation

An Augusta food plant is still under scrutiny after an outbreak of botulism.

State and federal investigators are exploring the link between four botulism cases and the recalled chili sauce canned at a plant in Augusta.

The FDA issued a warning to consumers after investigators traced the hospitalization of an Indiana couple and two children in Texas to the Castleberry sauce.

Epidemiologist for the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ezra Barzalay, confirmed the Indiana victims had botulism, and he said, "We were also able to isolate botulism toxin from a chili product that was retrieved from the patient’s refrigerator in their home.”

Castleberry Foods said there was a production problem two months ago, but the cans showed no signs of botulism.

More testing is being conducted to determine if the Castleberry sauce is the culprit.