Salmonella outbreak due to peanut butter products “ongoing” – CDC

Investigators from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have concluded that peanut butter and peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America at its plant in Blakely, Georgia are the sources of the Salmonella bacteria that has sickened nearly 500 people in 43 states, including at least 13 in Washington state, three of whom live in King County. One case has been identified in Canada.

Of those who have fallen ill, 107 required hospitalization and six have died. 

More cases are being reported everyday, said Dr. Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the Division of Foodborne Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases at the CDC, “the outbreak appears to be ongoing.”

The company’s peanut butter is sold to institutions, such as schools, hospitals and long-term care facilities, and not directly to consumers. The peanut paste product is distributed to food manufacturers who use the paste in cakes, cookies, candies, cereals, ice cream and other products. The company sent potentially contaminated products to more than 70 firms, according to the FDA.

“The FDA has no evidence to suggest Salmonella typhimurium contamination originated with any other major manufacturing facility at this time,” Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition said.

So far, major brands of jarred peanut butter have not been linked to the outbreak, according to the FDA.

To date more 125 products have been recalled because of concerns that they may contain contaminated peanut paste, including products such as Kellogg’s Keebler and Austin brand peanut butter cracker sandwichs, peanut-flavored Clif Bar and NutriSystem products, and ice cream sold at some Kroger outlets including Fred Meyer and QFC.

A searchable list of recalled products is available online at the FDA’s Web page on the outbreak.

Some pet food products have also been recalled, including PetSmart brand Great Choice dog biscuits, which, the FDA says, should be discarded.

“While the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal, there is risk to humans from handling these products so we want to underscore that it is especially important for people to wash their hands and to make sure that their children wash their hands after feeding treats to pets,” Dr. Sundlof said.

The FDA advises consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat products that have been recalled and to throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them.

The FDA urges consumers to first visit FDA’s website to determine if commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream) are subject to recall. Identification of products subject to recall is continuing, and FDA will update its list of recalled products and advice based on new sampling and distribution information.

For information on products containing peanut butter or peanut paste from companies not reporting recalls to date, consumers may wish to consult the company’s website or call the toll-free number listed on most packaging. Information consumers may receive from the companies in this manner has not been verified by the FDA.

If consumers cannot determine if their peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products or institutionally-served peanut butter may contain PCA peanut butter/peanut paste, FDA recommends they do not consume those products. Efforts to specifically identify products subject to the PCA recall and to continuously update consumers are ongoing.

Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers.

At this time, there is no indication that any national name brand jars of peanut butter sold in retail stores are linked to the PCA recall.

Salmonella:

Salmonella is a bacteria which causes a gastrointestinal infection. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), People infected with the bacteria typically develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after infection.

Most people recover within 4 to 7 days without treatment, but infants, the elderly, and those with impaired immune systems are at risk of developing more severe infections in which the bacteria enters the bloodstream and infects other parts of the body, the CDC warns.

Such infections can be fatal and should be treated with antibiotics, the CDC says.

To learn more:

• Visit the CDC’s Salmonella Outbreak Update Web page.
• Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Salmonella Outbreak Update Web page.
• Visit the FDA’s “Frequently Asked Questions” Web page.
• Read more of LocalHealthGuides coverage in postings below.
• Read the companies’ press releases concerning some of the most recalls below.
• Visit Public Health – Seattle & King County information page which has links to information on Salmonella in Chinese, English, Korean, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Tags: Peanut Butter, Product Recall, Salmonella

Category: Digestive System, Infections, Product Recall