WARNING BABY FOOD RECALL

Health Alert: Earth's Best Baby Food Recall
February 20, 2007
-- By BabyFit

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Certain Jars of Earth's Best: "Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast Baby Food"

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use certain jars of Earth's Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast baby food because of the risk of contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause botulism, a life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

The affected product was sold in single individual jars and in variety packs (which contains 4 jars of the apple peach barley in the pack along with other varieties). The food is part of the firm's "2nd Vegetables, Fruits and Blends" line intended for babies 6 months and older. The food was distributed through retail stores and sold through the Earth's Best website. If consumers have any of the specified jars in their home, they should not use it and destroy it immediately. No illnesses have been reported to FDA or the manufacturer to date in connection with this problem.

The affected baby food is as follows:

Earth's Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast (4.5 ounce jars)

* UPC Code: 23923-20223
* Lid: PF6J14 NP
* Expiration Date: EXP 14 SEP 08 A

Earth's Best Organic 2 Wholesome Breakfast Variety Pack (12 pack)

* UPC Code: 23923-20295
* Expiration Date: 13 SEP 08

Earth's Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley (4.5 ounce jars within 12 pack)

* UPC Code: 23923-20223
* Lid: PF6J14 NP
* Expiration Date: EXP 14 SEP 08 A

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, usually causes illness within 18-36 hours of exposure. Initial indication of illness in infants is decreased frequency or absence of stools. Other signs and symptoms noted are poor feeding, weak suck, lethargy, listlessness, weak cry, decreased body tone, and diminished overall movement. Difficulty with swallowing may be evident as secretions drooling from the mouth. This may be followed by decreased respiratory effort which may lead to respiratory arrest from airway occlusion from un-swallowed secretions. Older populations who may be consuming the product as part of a pureed diet might experience symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, dry mouth, and progressive weakness from head to legs. Constipation and urinary retention are also common. Caregivers or people observing these problems should seek immediate medical attention for those affected.

Hain Celestial Group initiated a recall of the food on February 9th. The recall is ongoing. Production and distribution of the product has been suspended as FDA and the company work to determine the source of the problem. Hain Celestial Group distributed 4,072 cases of the specified individual jars consisting of 24 jars per case and 38,298 variety packs with the specified jars.

Consumers who have questions should contact Hain Celestial Group at 1-800-434-4246.
Luckly we didn't have this flavor in our home but this is the brand of baby food we buy most often.