By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
August 2, 2007

The Oregon Food Bank has alerted five food pantries in Hood River County about the recall of three products.

Those alerted include the FISH food program, which has distribution sites in Parkdale and Hood River, the Hood River Valley Adult Center, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Helping Hands Against Violence and St. Patrick’s Church Society in Cascade Locks.

“We did have someone bring back two cans Friday night,” said Lorenda Hoffman, the assistant site coordinator for FISH food bank. “We have posted the alert and labels from the cans at the church.”

Castleberry Food of Augusta, Ga., has issued a nationwide recall of canned food products due to possible botulism contamination. The Oregon Food Bank is asking anyone who received Morton House Chili (15-ounce), Morton House Beef Stew (20-ounce) or Castleberry Beef Stew (24-ounce) to return those cans to their agency or program from which they received it.

“There have been no cases here in Oregon or southwest Washington. The four cases of botulism were from the hot dog chili sauce but this was from the same plant, the same line and because it’s serious you want to always err on the side of caution. Food safety is our number-one concern,” said Jean Kempe-Ware, public relations manager for the Oregon Food Bank.

The agency coordinates its efforts through regional network agencies. For Hood River County, that agency is the Mid-Columbia Community Action Program in The Dalles.

Regional coordinator Janeal Booren said her records show that recalled food did go out from their warehouse to Hood River County. She said the programs most affected are the largest. Those include the FISH food program, which has distribution sites in Parkdale and Hood River, the Hood River Valley Adult Center and Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

The adult center does not distribute the food but uses it in its senior meals program. Program Manager Heidi Musgrave said the senior center has pulled the recalled food from their shelves and set it aside for return.

At the FISH site, Hoffman said the returned items were 24-ounce cans of Castleberry Stew on hand. While FISH received 10 cases of Morton House Chili last month, they had not distributed any yet. The cases have been separated and set aside for return to Oregon Food Bank to pick up. In addition, Hoffman did a thorough inventory of FISH’s current stock.

“I went through and looked at every can of beans or chili we had anywhere in the storeroom,” she said.

She cautioned that people not panic about the recall. Hoffman said the person who returned the Castleberry’s Stew Friday evening also brought back cans of soup that were not on the recall list.

“I think she was afraid to eat anything we had given her,” Hoffman said. “Anyone with questions should come to the food bank and ask.”