You ate what?!?!

I'm really sorry those folks got sick ... but hot dog chili from a friggin' can?!?!?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Castleberry's Food Company has closed its production facility in Augusta, Georgia, after 16 cans of chili sauce tested positive for botulism over the weekend, company officials said Monday.

In addition, the company has hired an outside firm to visit more than 8,500 retailers around the country in an effort to quickly get recalled products off store shelves.

So far, four cases of botulism have been reported -- two from Indiana and two from Texas. All four people consumed Hot Dog Chili Sauce Original, a product made by Castleberry's.

On Saturday, Castleberry's expanded its recall of canned meat products that may be connected to a botulism outbreak. It recalled more than 80 types of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash and other meat products in addition to the 10 brands it had recalled Thursday.

Making real chili (and I'm from the South, so I understand fully the appeal of meat on top of meat!) takes all of about 15 minutes ... not much longer than it would take to warm up a can of that other stuff.

Or maybe if one is willing to put that other stuff in one's mouth ... well, maybe its being warm isn't so important. Someone pass the Alpo, please.

*** Edit: Looks like the dogs are, um, going to the dogs, too.***

Ick.