Tests Show Botulism Unlikely In Salsa Health Officials Seek Jars Of Caribbean Plaza Guasaca

Early tests show salsa sold at the “Picnic in the Park” probably wasn’t contaminated with botulism.

But public health officials are still trying to locate any jars of the Caribbean Plaza Guasaca that were sold during festivities surrounding the opening of the Cultural Center Oct. 1. There is confirmed contamination that, though less deadly than botulism, will still make people sick, said Dave Hylsky of the Panhandle Health District.

Containers of the same salsa also were distributed during Spokane’s “PigOut in the Park” in early September, health officials said. “Wherever one may have happened to come across this semi-processed product, they should not consume it, but should bring it to us,” said Paul Stepak, an epidemiologist with the Spokane County Health District.

The ingredients are not a problem, Stepak said. Instead, the mixture was improperly sealed in a jar, which provides perfect growing conditions for certain bacteria in the absence of refrigeration.

No one has been reported sick or turned in bottles of the condiment since North Idaho health officials announced the contamination last Friday. The alert came after a man took a bottle of bubbling “Guasaca” to Panhandle Health and tests of the bottle turned up problems.

Leo Felice, who made the salsa, said he gave away only two of 24 containers he had at the Coeur d’Alene event. He used 20 jars of the salsa in the Caribbean meals he served from his food cart and took two jars home.

“I ate one and nobody here is sick,” Felice said. The other was turned over to the Spokane County Health District, which forwarded it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for testing.

The former owner of the Caribbean Plaza restaurant, Felice makes the salsa at a commercial kitchen in Spokane. He is licensed as a food vendor in both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, but isn’t licensed to can or process food.

, DataTimes