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Food safety specialists concerned about Richmond soup business

Posted at 3:45 PM, Aug 01, 2014
and last updated 2014-08-01 23:40:04-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- Souperb, a Church Hill-based soup shop, will issue a voluntary recall Friday after food safety specialists from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) warned people not to eat the soup.

"These products were improperly processed, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum," VDACS Director of Communications Elaine Lidholm wrote in an email. "Ingestion of botulism toxin from improperly processed jarred and canned foods may lead to serious illness and death."

Souperb owner Diane Fraser said the recall was precautionary and added no one has gotten sick eating her soup. Still, the state said the risk was high enough to issue the warning.

"The soups are packaged in Mason-style glass jars with screw-on metal lids and have been sold at area farmers’ markets, retail stores and the store on North 25th Street," Lidholm said. "The jars are labeled with the Souperb name and may have an associated use by or best by date."

Souperb is located at 314 North 25th Street in Richmond.

If you have Souperb soups at home, the state recommended you throw it out immediately.

"Double bag the jars in plastic bags and place in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash," Lidholm wrote. "Those who don’t wear gloves when handling these products should wash their hands with soap and running water after handling."

This is a developing story.