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Posted: Monday, July 30th, 2007 4:37 AM HST

Man suffering botulism symptoms released from hospital

By Associated Press

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) _ A Maui man who was hospitalized after eating a canned meat product recently recalled because of potential botulism contamination has been released. Officials at Maui Memorial Medical Center say 33-year-old Jon Stockton of Hana was discharged in stable and improved condition. Stockton had complained of symptoms of botulism poisoning, such as numbness of the face, after eating canned chili that was subject to the recall. Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease. It thrives in moist, oxygen-free environments. The chili was manufactured by Castleberry's Food Company of Augusta, Georgia. U-S Food and Drug Administration investigators believe Castleberry's failed to properly cook some or all the products, allowing the Clostridium botulism bacteria to survive the canning process. (Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved)