Salmonella fears prompt nationwide recall of peanut butter from Georgia facility

Salmonella - Photo Credit CDC

The Peanut Corporation of America has issued a nationwide recall of peanut butter produced in its facility in Blakely, Georgia after the product has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella infections that has sickened more than 400. 

As of Friday, 11 Washington State residents have been infected.

The recalled peanut butter was distributed to institutions and food services, the company said. It was also sold to these customers under the brand names Parnell’s Pride and King Nut.

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: 

• Follow the CDC’s updates on its Salmonella Outbreak Investigation.
• Read the CDC’s information page on Salmonella infections.
• Visit Washington State Department of Health’s Web page on Food Safety Resources.
• See LocalHealthGuide’s earlier report on the recall of King Nut peanut butter products.
• Read the press release from the Peanut Corporation of America announcing the recall below.

More general information about Salmonella can be found atwww.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/salmonellosis_gi.html (Salmonella FAQs)

Press release:

Peanut Corporation of America Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Peanut Butter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Lynchburg, Va. (January 13, 2009) – Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), a peanut processing company and maker of peanut butter for bulk distribution to institutions, food service industries, and private label food companies, today announced a voluntary recall of peanut butter produced in its Blakely, Georgia processing facility because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

All product affected was produced on or after July 1, 2008, specific to the lot numbers and descriptions listed below.

The peanut butter being recalled is sold by PCA in bulk packaging to distributors for institutional and food service industry use.

It is also sold under the brand name Parnell’s Pride to those same industries.

Additionally, it is sold by the King Nut Company under the label King Nut. PCA customers who received the recalled product are being notified by telephone and in writing.

None of the peanut butter being recalled is sold directly to consumers through retail stores.

“We deeply regret that this has happened,” said Stewart Parnell, owner and president of PCA. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily withdrawing this product and contacting our customers. We are taking these actions with the safety of our consumers as our first priority.”

PCA initiated this recall after an open container of King Nut brand peanut butter in a long-term care facility in Minnesota was found to contain a strain of salmonella. King Nut brand peanut butter is produced by PCA.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota laboratory analyses on the contamination in the already-opened container of peanut butter have the same genetic fingerprint as the cases in the national outbreak that has sickened almost 400 people in 42 states.

The voluntary recall of 21 lots of its peanut butter, in containers ranging from five to 50 pounds, is being taken immediately. PCA is notifying its institutional customers and has set up a toll-free hotline number 1-877-564-7080 to answer questions.

PCA is continuing to work closely and cooperating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state officials as part of this ongoing investigation.

According to a CDC update issued on their website today (January 13, 2009), preliminary analysis of an epidemiologic study conducted by CDC and public health officials has suggested peanut butter as a likely source. The CDC and other public health officials are continuing to conduct surveillance for cases of infection with the outbreak strains, and to gather and analyze data or exposures that may be associated with illness. To date, no association has been found with common brand names of peanut butter sold in grocery stores.

Customers are asked to take all peanut butter manufactured with the lot numbers listed below out of distribution immediately. Customers can call the following toll-free 24-hour number 1-877-564-7080 for further instructions on what to do with the product or visit the company website at www.peanutcorp.com for additional information.

Eating food contaminated with Salmonella can result in abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and fever. Most people infected with Salmonella develop the symptoms 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.

However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses. For more information on the salmonella bacteria, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Website at http://www.cdc.gov.

Lot Numbers Affected:

8193, 8194, 8197, 8233, 8234, 8235, 8241, 8255, 8256, 8275, 8276, 8282, 8283, 8284, 8296, 8316, 8330, 8331, 8336, 8345, 8354

#

Related posts:

1. Peanut butter found to be contaminated with Salmonella
2. Melamine fears lead to cookie recall
3. Imitation cream cheese and “peanot” butter products recalled
4. ReliOn insulin syringe recall
5. Harry & David issues recall because of pecan allergy concerns