Concerns in the U.S. over cans of chilli contaminated by a bacteria which causes botulism, which prompted a recall of the products, has now been extended to include chilli, beef stew and other canned meat products, as well as four pet food products.
Every product manufactured on a specific production line in the past two years has been recalled by the company Castleberry in response to concern about contamination.
The company says the products are sold in more than 17,000 stores nationwide and in Canada.
The recall which began last week was initiated when two children in Texas and an Indiana couple became ill after eating the hot dog chilli products; all four had consumed Hot Dog Chilli Sauce Original, a product made by Castleberry's.
The contamination is believed to be isolated to a U.S. plant in Augusta, Geogia which has now been shut down.
The company closed its production facility in Augusta after 16 cans of chilli sauce tested positive over the weekend for the bacteria that causes botulism.
Castleberry has organised for more than 8,500 retailers around the country to remove the suspect products from store shelves immediately and has extended the voluntary recall of canned meat products to include more than 80 types of canned chilli, beef stew, corned beef hash and other meat products in addition to the 10 brands already recalled.
The company is working closely with the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture in order to determine the extent of the problem and have stopped all further product distribution from their centers.