| |
Bacterial Diseases: Slate Wipers and Current Concerns |
Chapter: 18
|
 |
 |
Fifty-Five Million Cans of Salmon History’s second largest recall of canned food took place in the spring of 1982 when officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that grocery shelves be cleared of 7 ¾-ounce cans of Alaska salmon. By the end of April, eight separate recalls had been issued, and over 55 million cans were removed from stores.
The problem surfaced in February of that year when a Belgian man died of botulism after eating pâté made from salmon imported from the United States. Shortly thereafter, in March, a woman in Connecticut also became ill with botulism a day after eating salmon. Markings on the cans led the FDA back to Alaskan canneries.
Investigators soon established that the canning process was adequate enough to destroy botulism spores in the fish. However, several cans contained barely perceptible pinholes. Further study revealed that the machine used for shaping the cans had inadvertently punctured them. Officials theorized that Clostridium botulinum entered the cans after processing, and that oil or pieces of fish pressing against the sides of the cans sealed the opening.
The ramifications of the recalls were soon evident: Sales of Alaska salmon dropped dramatically, as warehouses swelled with unwanted cans. With sales of over $300 million annually, the salmon industry was Alaska’s largest employer, and many canners forecast economic ruin. The recall also had an effect on fishermen because their catch was now unneeded. As the effects cascaded, local businesspeople began their campaign for recovery.
|
