(RepublicanView.org) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall for hundreds of coffee products from 147 brands. Wisconsin-based coffee manufacturer Snapchill voluntarily withdrew its products due to potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium known to generate the deadly botulinum toxin. The FDA blamed the company’s manufacturing process and warned consumers to seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms.
Botulinum toxin can cause constipation, double vision, speaking and swallowing difficulties, or strained breathing. The FDA urges people to discard relevant products or return them to stores for a refund. The brands affected include Baba Java, Mocha Joe, and Honest Coffee.
The World Health Organization reported that around 5-10% cases of foodborne botulism turn out to be fatal. Symptoms can appear from just a few hours to eight days after contamination.
A study published in the The National Library of Medicine describes Botulinum toxin as “one of the most poisonous biological substances known.” It interrupts neural transmissions and can cause muscle paralysis. It is also used in medical treatments for movement disorders or muscle spasms. The product is famously utilized in cosmetic applications and is known as “Botox.”
The FDA approved its use in cosmetic procedures in 2002, as it is known to remove or cover skin creases and facial lines temporarily. Cosmetic use is not considered dangerous because only small doses are used, and exposure does not occur in the digestive system. However, Botox injections for cosmetic purposes are not without risks of certain side effects, research has indicated.
In April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that several patients were hospitalized after undergoing Botox cosmetic procedures. Officials in Illinois and Tennessee investigated the hospitalization cases and concluded it was likely that the Botox used was counterfeit and self-administered.
Sameer Vohra of the Illinois Department of Public Health said treatments in unlicensed settings “can put you or your loved ones at serious risk.”
Copyright 2024, RepublicanView.org
