PROVIDENCE--The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is expanding the recall from earlier this week advising consumers not to eat Mediterranean Olives: Calcidica Sweet (Brand: Bel Frantoio) sold at any Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) stores. In addition to these sweet olives, HEALTH now warns consumers not to eat any Bel Frantoio brand olives sold at any Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) stores. OSJL is recalling these products after HEALTH staff discovered that, as with the Calcidica Sweet olives, the Calcidica Salted Bel Frantoio olives were also not handled appropriately to prevent production of the toxin that causes botulism.
Mediterranean Olives: Calcidica Sweet and Calcidica Salted, produced by Bel Frantoio and packaged in 34-oz. plastic containers, were sold in OSJL stores in New York and throughout the Northeast (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine). These two types of olives are being voluntarily recalled because they are labeled "Keep Refrigerated," but were sold at room temperature, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum.
Other olive products produced by Bel Frantoio that were sold at Ocean State Job Lot, as well as other brands of olives, do not currently pose a safety issue. However, HEALTH recommends and Ocean State Job Lot has voluntarily recalled ALL Bel Frantoio olives, and customers are encouraged to return any Bel Frantoio olives to Ocean State Job Lot for a refund. Although there are no safety issues with other types of Bel Frantoio brand olives they do require refrigeration, contrary to the label on the top of the container which states "Refrigerate after opening". OSJL will give a refund to anyone who returns any olives with that brand name. For more information, contact the Ocean State Job Lot Customer Service Center at (401) 295-2672, Option 6.
These products sold elsewhere, where refrigerated, are safe for consumption.
Ingestion of botulinum toxin from improperly stored foods can lead to serious illness and death.
Anyone who has eaten the recalled product(s) and has experienced abdominal cramps; difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing; double vision; muscle weakness; muscle aches; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; or fever should contact their healthcare provider immediately for evaluation and treatment. The young, elderly, immune-compromised, and pregnant women are especially susceptible to foodborne illness.
No illnesses associated with this recall have been reported at this time.
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