Food Poisoning - Can a home-canned product cause dizziness?

Dear Ask The Doctor: My friend (23 yrs old) and i (41 yrs old) are both showing signs of dizziness about 14 hours after eating the same meal. we had baked checken thighs, home-canned green beans (that had been stored in a pantry), and some pasta with cheese. my questions is...is it possible that we both are having these dizzy spells due to the canned vegetable? thanks.

Dear Brie: There are definite indications that the symptoms you and your friend are experiencing may be due to food poisoning. The food poisoning you get from canned food is called botulism. It is most common in home-canned goods, but it is also possible to pick it up from processed canned foods. Symptoms of botulinum poisoning are blurring of vision, dry mouth and trouble swallowing, muscle weakness and dizziness. Though other food borne illness may present with similar presentations, it is always best to rule out botulinum poisoning. I would advise that you and your friend see a doctor or go to the ER if symptoms worsen. In cases of botulinum poisoning, a doctor can administer an antitoxin to treat it.