The company said it was recalling 15-ounce cases of it’s Taco Bell Salsa Con Queso Mild Cheese Dip that had “best when used by” dates ranging from Oct. 31, 2018, to Jan. 23, 2019.
“Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled,” the company said in a press release.
Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal form of food poisoning that attacks the body’s nerves and can cause paralysis. It’s sometimes linked to contaminated food, primarily improperly home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods, but does appear sometimes in store-bought foods.
The Associated Press, citing health officials, said that commercially canned foods are typically heated long enough and to high enough temperatures to kill the spores that otherwise can grow and produce the toxin.
“This weakness may spread to the neck, arms, torso, and legs. Botulism also can weaken the muscles involved in breathing, which can lead to difficulty breathing and even death,” the federal agency added.
Anyone who believes they have botulism should go to the nearest emergency room immediately; people can die if they don’t get proper medical treatment quickly.
Kraft Heinz said no cases of botulism from the Taco Bell Cheese Dip have been reported.
The recall follows a number of recent recalls by other major packaged food companies including Kellogg Co’s Honey Smacks cereal, Campbell Soup Co’s Goldfish Crackers, and Mondelez International Inc’s Ritz Crackers due to potential salmonella contamination.
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