State consumer protection officials said they have issued a cease-and-desist order to a Monroe-based hot sauce company over concerns about botulism.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection’s food and standards division on Friday said it asked Phire in the Hole to take its products off the shelves following complaints from local health departments.
The company’s hot sauces were sold in Connecticut at Beardsley’s Cider Mill & Orchard in Shelton from November 2025 through Aug. 17. However, it’s not clear whether they also were sold elsewhere.
The hot sauce products at the center of the complaint are packaged in 5-ounce bottles, with the following names:
Phire in the Hole has declined to recall its products and has not responded to the state’s order, DCP said.
According to officials, the hot sauces were not manufactured with an approved process or a mandatory license. If acidified or low-acid canned foods aren’t processed properly, they said, it could result in the formation of botulism.
Botulism is a form of food poisoning that could be fatal, officials said. Symptoms include weakness, dizziness, double vision, trouble swallowing or speaking, difficulty breathing, abdominal swelling and constipation.
No illnesses have been reported, officials said.
