Non-refrigerated fresh bulk tofu purchased from any New York City market should be disposed of immediately.Botulism is a rare illness carried by food that can be fatal.

The New York City Health Department is investigating one confirmed and one suspect case of botulism, a rare but serious illness caused by toxins in food. New York City has seen only one other case of  botulism in food in the past 15 years. Both patients are Chinese-speaking Queens residents and had recently purchased unrefrigerated fresh bulk tofu from the same store in Flushing. The tofu was not made at this store, and its source is still under investigation. This kind of tofu - commonly sold in an open, water-filled bin - is suspected to be the source of these cases; however it has not yet been confirmed.

As the investigation continues, the Health Department is advising all individuals to discard all ! fresh bulk tofu purchased from any New York City store that has been kept at room temperature at the time of purchase. The Health Department is also warning consumers to throw away tofu that has not been stored in a refrigerator at home.