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GREENSBORO — A breakdown in communication has left more than half the stores that carry Castleberry's products still offering recalled items two weeks later.

Inspectors have removed 22,000 cans, which may contain a toxin that causes botulism, from stores across the state, said Joe Reardon, director of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Botulism, a rare illness caused by a nerve toxin, can cause paralysis, respiratory failure and death.

The information typically gets passed down from the manufacturer to the wholesale distributors and then on to the retailers, Reardon said.

But, he said, independent stores that may buy their products through other means such as membership warehouse stores or on the Internet, may not be notified.

Mark Saxton, a manager at Thrifty Curb Market, said the store never carried Castleberry's but that it also never received letters regarding the earlier Peter Pan or dog food recalls.

"We get it off the news," he said.

Thrifty Curb Market orders its products from M.R. Williams, a wholesale distributor based in Hendersonville.

Bill Martin, head buyer for the company, said Castleberry's notified him of the recall July 23.

He and the sales manager prepared a report on the recalled products and the stores that carried them. Sales representatives received the report with instructions to contact retailers.

"We still haven't made it to all the accounts," he said. "We have X amount of salespeople."

Martin said it is more difficult to contact independent stores that might not have e-mail accounts.

Both the Food and Drug Administration and the state agriculture department have visited the distributor, which is unusual, Martin said.

"It seemed like the heat got turned up on this one," he said.

Dianne Blancato, spokeswoman for Lowes Foods, said the manufacturer typically notifies the company.

A representative contacts all store managers, typically through e-mail. The managers then must follow up with the corporate office.

Representatives from the Supervalu grocery network and Kroger would not give details on specific protocol for ensuring recall information gets passed along.

Reardon said this is the largest canned food recall in 30 years. The recall affects 88 products with several different brand names.

He said the complexity and the volume of the recall has stressed federal, state and local officials, as well as consumers.

The department enlisted the help of local public health departments Wednesday to visit more stores.

Lynne Beck, media relations manager for the Guilford County Health Department, said 34 county staff members began inspections Friday.

And more than 1,000 cans were removed from shelves throughout the county.

Inspections could continue for three to five days, said James Priddy, the department's senior environmental health specialist.

The seriousness of botulism and the large number of Castleberry's products prompted county involvement.

But the effort did cause some overlap.

Michael Varnes, manager of Key Food Fresh Marketplace, said Priddy was the third person to inspect his store.

"I've never seen such follow-through," he said regarding past recalls during his 20 years in the industry.

Beck said recalls generally are addressed by federal and state agencies, who then may call on local government.

"We will be involved at whatever point we are tapped to be involved," she said.

Reardon said a process must be identified that would bridge the communication gaps among agencies, manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

"Once this is over, we'll be reviewing the lesson learned through this event," he said.

At least four cases of botulism connected to Castleberry's have been confirmed in Indiana and Texas.

Officials also are investigating cases in New Mexico and California.

No cases have been reported in North Carolina.

Contact Karin Dryhurst at 373-7012 or kdryhurst@news-record.com