SANTA ROSA, July 24 - Erring on the side of caution, the Redwood Empire Food Bank today urged the public to destroy any cans of beef stew they may have received at food bank distributions that were manufactured by a company now under a federal recall order.

The food in question - 24 oz. cans of beef stew manufactured under the Castleberry label and distributed by the REFB in the past year - is not on the list of foods ordered recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Nonetheless, Redwood Empire Food Bank Executive Director David Goodman today urged food bank recipients not to take any chances.

"To be on the safe side, we are suggesting people to throw out any cans of this Castleberry beef stew they may still have on their shelves at home," he said. "The 24-oz. cans of stew we distributed are not on the list of suspect foods, but they were manufactured by the company that is now under the recall order and it just seems to make good sense to not take any unnecessary risks."

The FDA on Monday ordered the recall of millions of cans of chili sauce, corned beef hash and beef stew produced by in the Augusta, Ga. plant of Castleberry's Food Company. The recall was ordered after some of the firm's canned products were found to contain botulism bacteria which can be deadly. The recall applies to about 80 brands of products produced up to two years ago at the Georgia plant. The plant has been closed.

Goodman said the REFB has distributed about 8,000 cans of beef stew produced by Castleberry, some of it in the past several weeks and months. But he said the 24 oz. cans are not on the list of suspect products the FDA specified in its recall announcement.

"But let's not take any chances. Throw the food out," Goodman said.

People who do find they have Castleberry products are urged to place the cans in a double plastic bag and place it in the trash.

For more information, contact Goodman at 707-523-7900.