Botulism risk: Hawaii health dept, forces company to close, recall 3 years of product

The state health department has issued a recall for more than one hundred locally produced food products including jams, salad dressings, and sauces that were manufactured at a Waipio processing plant because of a risk for botulism.

The Health Department issued an Order to Cease and Desist, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found evidence of improper manufacturing standards at the First Commercial Kitchen plant.

A recall issued last Thursday only included two products: Ohana Flavors Black Bean Sauce and Barbs Local Style Black Bean Sauce.

But now, the recall includes everything that was manufactured there over the past three years.

The Health Department says it issued the mass recall after the company failed to produce required documentation and because of inadequate testing to ensure no bacteria growth.

A number of restaurants have responded to the recall, saying they haven’t done business with First Commercial Kitchen in years, and their names were incorrectly added to the recall list.