California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman today warned consumers not to eat soups from One Gun Ranch and Organic Soup Kitchen because they may have been improperly produced, making them susceptible to Clostridium botulinum. Ingestion of botulinum toxin from improperly processed canned foods may lead to serious illness and death. No illnesses have been linked to any of the affected products at this time.

One Gun Ranch, a Malibu company, manufactured the following varieties of soups: Campfire Kitchen Cauliflower Soup, Heirloom Tomato Fennel Gaspacho Soup, Sequoia’s Skinny Spiced Coconut, Parsnip, and Turmeric Soup, Ossian’s Pumpkin Stew, and Freddy’s Firegrilled Meatballs. The soups were sold in 16-ounce glass jars with screw-on metal lids. Photographs of the affected soups’ packaging and labels are available on the CDPH website.

The soups were only sold at Pacific Palisades Farmers Market located at Swarthmore Avenue and Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA on May 13, 2012 and June 3, 2012.

Organic Soup Kitchen, a Santa Barbara company, manufactured the following soups: Fire Roasted Yam, Curried Potato Leek, Curry Lentil Bisque, Tomato Bean and Wild Herb, and Mediterranean Chipotle Chili. The soups were sold under the Organic Soup Kitchen label and are packaged in one-quart glass jars with screw-on metal lids. Photographs of the affected soups’ packaging and labels are available on the CDPH website.

The soups were sold between June 6, 2011 and May 6, 2012, at the following farmers markets:

Calabasas Farmers Market located at Calabasas Road and El Canon Avenue, Calabasas, CA 91302 (Saturdays)

Studio City Farmers Market located at Ventura Place between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Radford Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604 (Sundays)

CDPH is working with both companies to ensure these products are no longer available for sale.

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The initial symptoms are frequently double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, and dry, sore throat. Additional symptoms may include slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, inability of the neck muscles to support the head, and paralysis of the extremities and respiratory muscles can occur. Infants with botulism appear lethargic, are constipated, have a weak cry, and poor muscle tone. Consumers with any of these symptoms should contact their health care provider.

CDPH advises consumers who have purchased the affected soups to throw them away immediately, and then thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water.