Castleberry's food plant in Augusta to close

The Castleberry's food plant in Augusta is closing, according to a written statement from the board of trustees of Connors Bros. Income Fund.

Connors Bros. has just announced that Hanover Foods will acquire the Castleberry's brand. But that acquisition will not include the Augusta plant.

Castleberry's was at the center of a botulism outbreak last year that sickened at least eight people and led to a massive nationwide recall of its canned food products.

Wrongful death alleged in Castleberry's botulism outbreak

In his last seven weeks alive, Christopher Caffrey went blind, couldn't move and breathed only with the help of a ventilator.

An attorney for his family say the botulism toxin killed him.

They're blaming the Castleberry's food plant in Augusta for his death.

A rare botulism outbreak in Castleberry's canned chili sauce last year sickened eight people.

It also led to a massive nationwide recall of the company's canned foods.

Caffrey's family is suing Castleberry's for wrongful death because they say he ate Austex canned chili sauce, made by Castleberry's, shortly before his illness.

"The surprising thing to us is botulism is easy to prevent," says Randi McGinn, the Caffreys' lawyer. "If you follow the rules set up by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), there is no botulism."

Castleberry's declined to comment on the Caffrey case because it is in litigation.

Caffrey's family has not set a dollar figure on the lawsuit. McGinn says they instead want the court to decide any award.

Christopher Caffrey was a 52-year-old man who lived in New Mexico. The lawsuit was filed in a state district court there.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. House of Representatives' energy and commerce committee says a congressional hearing on last year's outbreak and issues related to it will likely begin this month.

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.

Update on Castleberry's food plant in Augusta

Kim Coutts, a spokeswoman for the Castleberry's food plant in Augusta, released this statement on Friday afternoon. The FDA has not responded to media requests for a comment.

"Castleberry's has received written notification that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have approved the re-opening of the Augusta, Ga., factory. The factory is scheduled to begin production by Monday, March 31, 2008.

"We are beginning the process of notifying employees of the good news and look forward to having everyone back to work soon. We're very grateful for the patience and understanding of our employees and customers during this time."

Castleberry's may re-open Monday in Augusta

The Castleberry's food plant in Augusta may re-open on Monday, according to a statement from Castleberry's.

The company has been working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on several mechanical and engineering upgrades at the plant, according to a spokeswoman for Castleberry's. She says there were no health or safety issues involved with these upgrades.

The FDA revoked Castleberry's operating permit two weeks ago, after they discovered mechanical problems that could have left food underprocessed.

Castleberry's had re-opened in September after a shutdown and massive recall resulting from botulism found in its canned chili sauce. The FDA says that problem was the result of underprocessed food.

No word from the FDA on Castleberry's latest statement.

Food plant may re-open soon in Augusta

An executive of the Castleberry’s food plant in Augusta that shut down recently due to equipment problems says it may re-open very soon.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked the plant’s operating permit after they found equipment problems that could have contributed to improperly cooked food.

Dave Melbourne, Castleberry’s senior vice president, says in a written statement that discussions with the FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture prompted him to estimate the plant would re-open this week.

Melbourne did not provide specifics on the discussions.

The FDA also had no comment.

Castleberry’s also had shut down last summer after botulism, a toxin, was found in its canned chili sauce.

A recall of its canned foods cost the company about $35 million.

Officials say the latest shutdown was only over equipment and there were no health or safety problems.

Food company in Augusta appeals permit revocation

Castleberry's food company has applied for reinstatement of its operating permit after it was revoked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently.

The FDA had revoked the permit after it found problems with equipment on the plant's production line. That means the company can not ship its products across state lines. The plant has since shut down.

The plant was shut down last summer after botulism was found in some of its canned chili sauce that hadn't been fully processed. The permit had allowed it to re-open last September.

The latest issue does not involve any food recalls.

Plant executives are "working closely with the FDA to answer its questions and hope to resume production as soon as we have addressed them," says Dave Melborne, the company's senior vice president, in a written statement. "We expect to have quick resolution."

FDA comment on Castleberry's operating permit revocation in Augusta

"During on-going inspections of vertical still retorts inside the firm, FDA found deviations from how the retorts were required to be operated. The deviations could have caused the food processed to be unsafe. Since under-processing by Castleberry in the past resulted in a botulism outbreak and since Castleberry was operating under an emergency permit, FDA revoked the emergency permit. Castleberry has three business days to appeal."

--Quote from Stephanie Kwisnek, spokeswoman for U.S. Food and Drug Administration, via e-mail

Statement from Castleberry's food company

"Castleberry’s Food Company has received notification that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the Temporary Emergency Operating Permit that was issued in September 2007. The permit granted permission for the Augusta, Georgia factory to commence production of FDA products, following a July 2007 voluntary product recall.

"Castleberry’s will work closely with the FDA to promptly answer questions and address any possible concerns. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also notified us that it is withholding inspection at the plant until the questions have been resolved.

"During this time, Castleberry’s has decided to cease production of all products in the Augusta, Georgia factory. Factory work shifts are temporarily on hold.

"We are cooperating fully with the agencies and look forward to a prompt resolution that we can resume operation and work shifts.

"It is important to note that the suspension of our temporary permit does not involve any product recall."

-- Statement from Castleberry's food company, March 10, 2008

Castleberry's food plant shut down again Augusta

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has shut down operations at a food plant in Augusta.

The same plant was shut down last year, after a massive recall of tainted chili sauce.

The plant, operated by the Castleberry's food company, produces a variety of canned foods.

The FDA has now revoked its operating permit. This prevents Castleberry's from shipping its products across state lines.

As a result, Castleberry's has shut down its operations.

The FDA says on-going inspections found that some of the equipment on the plant's production line wasn't operating properly.

Castleberry's says the latest incident does not involve a food recall.

Last year, the plant was shut down, after botulism was found in some canned chili sauce that hadn't been fully processed.

The company has three days to appeal the FDA's latest action.

Botulism link closes Augusta food plant

An Augusta food plant linked to a botulism outbreak is closed. Castleberry’s Food Company shuttered its Augusta processing facility, after 16 can of chili sauce tested positive for the bacteria that causes botulism.

Botulism is rare but serious illness that can include paralysis of the arms, breathing muscles and lungs. So far four people in Indiana and Texas have been diagnosed with the illness. Castleberry’s has also voluntarily expanded its recall of hot dog chili sauce and canned meat products.

For a complete list of recalled products, link here to the company’s website www.castleberrys.com