Karmactive Staff
A serious food safety recall is affecting consumers in 12 states after Walker’s Wine Juice LLC of Forestville, New York, voluntarily recalled its pumpkin juice products due to potential botulism contamination.
The recall, announced on April 1, 2025, comes after New York State food inspectors discovered the juice had a pH level too high for the company’s “hot fill” processing method, meaning there was no adequate kill step to eliminate dangerous bacteria.
The recalled products include all lots of pumpkin juice in 2.5-gallon bag-in-box containers, 5-gallon hot packs labeled “pumpkin,” and bulk containers of 30, 60, and 275 gallons tagged “pumpkin.”
These products were distributed through Walker’s retail store in New York and to commercial wineries across Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Understanding the Danger
Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal foodborne illness caused by the toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. These bacteria thrive in low-oxygen environments like improperly processed bottled or canned foods.
What makes these bacteria particularly dangerous is their ability to form spores that can survive harsh conditions and produce one of the most powerful known toxins when they grow.
The toxin attacks the nervous system by blocking signals that tell muscles to contract. This leads to progressive muscle weakness that typically starts with the face and head before potentially spreading to the rest of the body.
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Symptoms usually appear within 12 to 36 hours after consuming contaminated food and include:
- Double or blurred vision
- Drooping eyelids
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dry mouth
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal distension
- Constipation
If left untreated, botulism can lead to paralysis of breathing muscles and death. Treatment involves administering an antitoxin that can stop the progression of symptoms, though it cannot reverse paralysis that has already occurred.
What to Do
While no illnesses have been reported so far, health officials stress the importance of taking this recall seriously. Anyone who has purchased Walker’s pumpkin juice should:
- Not consume the product
- Contact Walker’s Wine Juice at 716-679-1292 x 1016 for proper disposal instructions and reimbursement information
Anyone experiencing symptoms of botulism should seek immediate medical attention, as early treatment significantly improves outcomes.
The FDA continues to monitor the situation as the company works to address the processing issues that led to the recall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Walker’s Wine Juice LLC is recalling all of its pumpkin juice products, which include:
- 2.5-gallon bag-in-box containers labeled “pumpkin”
- 5-gallon hot packs labeled “pumpkin”
- 30, 60, and 275-gallon bulk containers tagged “pumpkin”
All lots of these products are affected by the recall.
If you purchased pumpkin juice from Walker’s Wine Juice LLC, either directly from their retail store in New York or from a commercial winery in IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MI, MN, NJ, NY, OH, PA, or WI, you likely have the recalled product. All lots of their pumpkin juice are subject to the recall. Look for packaging labeled or tagged “pumpkin” with the Walker’s Wine Juice name.
Symptoms of botulism typically appear within 12 to 36 hours after consuming contaminated food, but can range from a few hours to several days. Common symptoms include:
- Double or blurred vision
- Drooping eyelids
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dry mouth
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal distension
- Constipation
If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
If you have purchased Walker’s pumpkin juice:
- Do not consume the product
- Contact Walker’s Wine Juice at 716-679-1292 x 1016 to get instructions for proper disposal
- Ask about reimbursement options
Even if the juice looks and smells normal, do not taste or use it as botulinum toxin does not have a distinctive smell or taste.
Botulism is a rare but very serious illness. It can cause paralysis that starts with facial muscles and can spread to the limbs and respiratory muscles. If left untreated, botulism can lead to respiratory failure and death. With prompt medical care, including antitoxin treatment, many patients recover, though recovery can take weeks or months. This is why it’s extremely important to take food recalls related to potential botulism contamination seriously.
As of April 1, 2025, no illnesses have been reported in connection with Walker’s pumpkin juice. The recall is a precautionary measure after New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors found that the pumpkin juice pH was too high to be safely processed using the company’s “hot fill” procedure, creating potential conditions for Clostridium botulinum growth.
