Remember the botulism recall? The infected cans are now exploding, according to the FDA.

Why is this bad? Well, you can contract botulism from breathing the spores.

From the Boston Globe:

Spot checks by the Food and Drug Administration and state officials are turning up recalled products for sale in convenience stores, gas stations and family-run groceries.

The FDA has found recalled products for sale in roughly 250 of the more than 3,700 stores visited in nationwide checks, according to figures the agency provided to The Associated Press.

Four people have been sickened and hospitalized by the contaminated food, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recall covers potentially tens of millions of cans of food; officials fear the tally will grow.

FDA investigators believe Castleberry Food failed to properly cook some or all the products, allowing the Clostridium botulinum bacteria to survive the canning process.

The bacteria produce a toxin that causes botulism, a muscle-paralyzing disease.

“We’re not talking here about a bug that lands you in the bathroom for a few days with diarrhea. We’re talking about a toxin that puts you in the intensive care unit,” said Dr. David Acheson, the FDA’s lead food safety expert. “This is foodborne illness with an extra kick in it, big time.”

The fact that cans filled with botulism are still on the shelf waiting to explode is not good. Quite a lot of food is affected, so you’ll need to check the recall site to determine if you have any of it at home.

Here’s what you can do:

1) If you have any of the recalled products at home, double bag them and throw them away. If they explode, you could inhale botulism. You do not want this.

2) If you see any of the recalled products, please inform the store about the recall.

They’re having trouble getting the word out about this recall, so tell a friend about it ask them to check their cupboards.

Castleberry’s Recall Information
Botulism Disposal Instructions From The CDC
Bursting cans give new urgency to warnings about botulism [Boston Globe] (Thanks, everyone who sent this in!)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.