Salmonella cases linked to tainted peanut butter products top 500
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now identified 501 cases of infection with the strain of Salmonella that has been linked to peanut butter and peanut butter paste products produced in the Peanut Corporation of America’s plant in Blakely, Georgia.
The cases have been found in 43 states, including 13 in Washington state—three of whom live in King County. One case has been identified in Canada.
Of those 501 cases, 102 were hospitalized. Half of the cases have been children younger than 16 years old. About one in five cases has younger than five years old. Eight deaths have been associated with outbreak.
Michael Rogers, director of the Division of Field Investigations in the Office of Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said CDC and FDA investigators found that the Blakely plant had a number of deficiencies related to its cleaning programs and procedures and had failed to take steps to mitigate Salmonella contamination in the facility.
In particular, investigators found that the firm had identified Salmonella in its products 12 times in 2007 and 2008 but, after the identification was not reconfirmed at an outside laboratory, had released products.
Peanut Corporation of America announced today that its is voluntarily recalling all peanuts and peanut products processed in its Blakely, Georgia facility since Jan. 1, 2007. Previously, the company had announced a recall of its peanut butter and peanut paste.
Peanut Corporation of America’s peanut butter was sold to institutions, such as schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities and cafeterias, and not directly to consumers. The company also made a peanut butter paste that was sold to over 70 different food processors, including the makers of peanut butter cracker sandwiches, ice cream products, and health bars.
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, ice cream sold at some Kroger outlets including Fred Meyer and QFC, and items sold at Trader Joe’s stores.
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.
Consumers will not find the name Peanut Corporation of America’s name or its initials, PCA, on these products, because the food processors use their own name on the products. FDA officials, therefore, warns consumers if they have doubts about the safety of any product, they should not eat them until the extent of the recall is clear.
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.
PHOTO CREDIT: CDC
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.
- Visit the Whole Foods Market blog page, which has a discussion about the recall.
- Read the press release from Whole Food Markets press releases concerning the recall below..
- Visit Public Health – Seattle & King County information page which has links to information on Salmonella in Chinese, English, Korean, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Related posts:
- Salmonella outbreak due to peanut butter products “ongoing” – CDC
- Whole Foods recalls peanut butter product due to Salmonella concerns
- FDA posts online list of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella fears
- Peanut butter found to be contaminated with Salmonella
- Kroger, Clif Bar and others recall peanut butter products due to Salmonella fears
