Fatal botulism outbreak linked to Germantown company

GERMANTOWN - The Germantown company that distributed the nacho cheese dip linked to a fatal botulism outbreak in California says it is working with federal, state and local health officials to determine what caused the contamination.

Tests confirmed the botulism toxin was present in nacho-cheese dip distributed by Gehl Foods and sold at a gas station in the Sacramento suburb of Walnut Grove that killed one man and left at least nine other people hospitalized.

Health officials say the dispensing container and cheese dip were removed May 5, and authorities believe the contamination posed no further risk to the public.

The company says it retested samples from the lot of cheese linked to the outbreak and that it’s clear of contamination. It also sent samples to an independent lab, which confirmed the findings.