Possible Botulism Found in Pumpkin Seed Pesto, Leading to Food Recall

For many consumers, fall is a return of all things pumpkin, from pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin seed trail mix. Williams-Sonoma, a high-end retail store selling everything from gourmet foods to furniture to linens, has issued a food recall for one of its popular fall products – Pumpkin Seed Pesto – after the product tested positive for botulism.

The food producer, California Olive & Vine, issued the food recall for Pumpkin Seed Pesto sold through Williams-Sonoma after a routine food test produced “irregular lab results.” The company said that could mean some jars of their product are contaminated with botulism because of improper storage or packaging.

No reports of botulism illness or injury have been reported, says the company, but the botulism toxin can be a fatal food-borne illness. Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria responsible for botulism, produces a neurotoxin that can lead to paralysis and death. Symptoms of botulism include double vision or blurred vision, drooping eye lids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. If untreated, botulism can lead to paralysis, including of the respiratory muscles. Food-borne botulism usually shows symptoms 18 to 36 hours after the disease has been ingested.

The food recall was issued on October 10th. Products affected by the food recall can be identified by looking for the stock keeping unit numbers 6404305 and 6389043, and comes in 8-ounce jars.

The food recall covers only the pumpkin seed pesto, and no other pumpkin-flavored food products from either California Olive & Vine or Williams-Sonoma.

Defective Products Can Lead to Health or Food Recalls

Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective products, whether broken bones from a car accident, or a serious illness from a food-borne pathogen. Many of these injuries could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety. Defective products that commonly cause injuries include medical devices, pharmaceutical products, food recalls, and other defective products such as toys, cars and automotive parts.

There are a number of reasons that defective products make it to our shelves:

• Defective manufacturing
• Inadequate testing
• Food-borne pathogens
• Design defects
• Marketing Misrepresentation

Consumers that have been harmed by defective products such as drugs, medical devices, improperly-sealed food, or other products, may be eligible to receive legal remedies.

The Strom Law Firm Protects Citizens Harmed by Food-Borne Illnesses and Delayed Food Recalls

To protect yourself and your family, it’s important to know what products have been recalled because they are defective, contaminated, or unsafe. Federal agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) frequently issue recalls for medical devices, drugs, and products that may be harmful to consumers.

The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm keep a close watch on recalls of dangerous and defective products in the US. We aim to protect our clients’ health and safety, and hold manufacturers to the highest possible standard of safety. Product recalls are especially important because defective drugs, medical devices, food, and toys can seriously injure or even kill consumers. If you or a loved one have experienced severe, life-limiting side effects from a defective food, product or drug, and believe that your pain stems from a product, drug, or food recall such as a Listeria food recall that came too late, you may be entitled to compensation. The Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today. 803.252.4800