The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about a possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum of canned cut green beans manufactured by New Era Canning Company, New Era, Michigan and labeled as “GFS Fancy Blue Lake Cut Green Beans.”

Clostridium botulinum is the bacterium that causes botulism. Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning. People contaminated with the bacteria can have symptoms like doubled or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty in swallowing, muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body, difficulty in breathing, abdominal distension and constipation. Botulism can even result in death due to respiratory failure although there have been registered a very small number of deaths in the U.S. in the last 50 years.

The New Era Company is voluntarily recalling 171 cases (each containing 6 cans) with the lot number 19H7FL and UPC code 93901 11873, according to local media sources. The cans weigh 6 pounds, 5 ounces. The products were distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The cans are reportedly being sold through GFS Marketplace stores in Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Health officials said that no one had presented symptoms of botulism so far. However, people experiencing any symptoms of the disease should immediately seek medical attention, especially that the period of incubation can be from two hours to two weeks.

Customers who have cans from the recalled cases are urged to throw them away immediately and carefully, as even tiny amounts of the bacteria ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the eye or a wound can cause serious illness.