The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has recalled lemonade and gel products sold by Royalty Sea Moss.
After a complaint from the Maryland Department of Health, an investigation found that Royalty Sea Moss, based out of Mt. Pleasant, MI, produced products with inadequate processing controls that are needed to stop the growth of foodborne pathogens, according to the department.
Royalty Sea Moss also does not have a license to manufacture, hold or sell products, which is a violation against the Michigan Food Law of 2000, officials said.
The following are products noted by the department for having inadequate labeling, including ingredient statements, lot codes and sell-by dates:
Regular Sea Moss Gel
Fruit Flavored Sea Moss Gel:
- Mixed Berry with Blueberry Strawberry Raspberry
- Pineapple Cherry Strawberry
- Peach Strawberry Flavor
- Strawberry Dragon fruit
- Mango Pineapple
- Strawberry Banana
Sea Moss Lemonade:
- Blue Raspberry
- Mango
- Lemonade
- Watermelon
- Strawberry Peach
- Green Apple
- Pink Strawberry
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Grape
- Pineapple
- Strawberry Kiwi
- Cherry
- Fruit Punch
Improperly processed food and drink has the chance to be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, an odorless bacteria which can cause life-threatening illness or even death, according to the department.
No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are warned not to use the product, even if it doesn’t look or smell spoiled, according to the department.
Anyone with questions or concerns can call the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at 800-292-3939.
About botulism
While a variety of illnesses can result from eating under-processed food, one of the most dangerous is botulism poisoning. Untreated, botulism can paralyze the muscles needed for breathing, resulting in sudden death.
Anyone who has eaten any recalledproducts and developed signs of botulism poisoning should immediately seek medical attention, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, symptoms can begin as soon as 6 hours after or up to 10 days later,” according to the CDC website.
The symptoms of botulism may include some of all of the following: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, a thick-feeling tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. People with botulism poisoning may not show all of these symptoms at once.
These symptoms result from muscle paralysis caused by the toxin. If untreated, the disease may progress, and symptoms may worsen to cause paralysis of specific muscles, including those used in breathing and those in the arms, legs, and the body from the neck to the pelvis area.
