FDA Finds Salmonella At Peanut Butter Plant

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Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Public Health;  GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 02 Mar 2007 - 0:00 PDT


The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that samples collected at ConAgra's peanut butter plant contained Salmonella. This follows the recent Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter made at the plant.

Salmonella in samples the FDA took from ConAgra's plant in Sylvester, Georgia matches the one that infected the people who fell ill.

The FDA now confirms that the Salmonella got into the jars of peanut butter before they left the factory.

Last week health officials in several states identified the strain from jars of open Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter recovered from consumers who fell ill.

The FDA continues to advise consumers not to eat Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter jars stamped with product codes starting with "2111".

ConAgra is recalling all the peanut butter jars with product code 2111 manufactured since December 2005 from retailers and distributors.

As well as Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter, other products such as peanut butter toppings may also be contaminated, since ConAgra sent batches of peanut butter to its plant in Humboldt, Tennessee.

Three brands of peanut butter topping could be contaminated, these are:

(1) Sonic Brand Ready-To-Use Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb 10.5 oz cans.
(2) Carvel Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb. 10 oz. cans.
(3) J. Hungerford Smith Peanut Butter Dessert Topping in 6 lb. 10 oz. cans.

Sonic and Carvel outlets used the topping until 16th February, when the product was recalled.

J. Hungerford Smith topping is used by retailers and restaurants outlets all over the US but is not available for direct purchase by the public.

However, consumers may still have some Sonic and Carvel products containing peanut butter topping at home.

Any Sonic and Carvel brands from the following lists should be thrown out, said the FDA:

- Sonic Peanut Butter Shake
- Sonic Peanut Butter Fudge Shake
- Sonic Peanut Butter Sundae
- Sonic Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae

- Carvel Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream
- Carvel Peanut Butter Treasure ice cream
- Carvel Peanut Butter & Jelly ice cream
- Carvel Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae Dasher ice cream

- Any other Carvel customized products containing the Peanut Butter Topping, including peanut butter flavoured ice cream in ice cream cakes should also be thrown out.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Tuesday this week, 370 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Tennessee from 42 states were reported to the CDC. About 20 per cent of those for whom they have clinical information were admitted to hospital and no deaths have been reported.

Infections are believed to have started at the beginning of August last year. The last reported date of onset was on February 16th this year, and 62 per cent of the illnesses began after 1st December 2006.

Symptoms of foodborne Salmonella infection (Salmonellosis) include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, and most people get these symptoms between 12 and 72 hours after infection.

The illness lasts up to a week and most people recover without treatment. It can be life-threatening to patients with weakened immune systems.

The FDA are asking consumers to report any symptoms linked to eating these products to their doctor so that the health authorities are alerted.

They are also asking restauranters and food service providers to report any news of consumers falling ill as a result of eating these peanut butter products to the health authorities. The data helps the health authorities accurately to track and assess the outbreak and put out warnings that may be necessary.

The FDA is currently piloting a 6-month consumer education programme on how to identify recalled food products.

Click here for CDC's FAQ page on Salmonellosis.

Click here for more information about the FDA's Pilot Program on Recalled Foods.

Written by: Catharine Paddock
Writer: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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