Salmonella/Peanut Butter outbreak
amynicole21 wrote: Yikes! http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/14/salmo...k.ap/index.html
Salmonella outbreak linked to 2 peanut butter brands
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- A salmonella outbreak that has slowly grown to nearly 300 cases in 39 states since August has been linked to tainted peanut butter, federal health officials said Wednesday.
It is believed to be the first salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter in U.S. history, said officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 20 percent of the 288 infected people have been hospitalized, but none has died, said Dr. Mike Lynch, a CDC epidemiologist.
About 85 percent of the infected people said they ate peanut butter, CDC officials said.
How salmonella got into peanut butter is still under investigation, Lynch said.
The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter because of the risk of contamination.
The affected jars have a product code on the lid that begins with the number "2111." The affected jars are made by ConAgra in a single facility in Sylvester, Georgia, the FDA said.
Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected, the agency said.
ConAgra said it is recalling all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111.
"Although none of our extensive product tests have indicated the presence of salmonella, we are taking this precautionary measure because consumer health and safety is out top priority," spokesman Chris Kircher said.
"We are working closely with the FDA to better understand its concerns, and we will take whatever additional measures are needed to ensure the safety, quality and wholesomeness of our products."
The largest number of salmonella cases were reported in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri.
Salmonella infection is known each year to sicken about 40,000 people in the United States, according to the CDC. Salmonellosis, as the infection is known, kills about 600 people annually.
Symptoms of salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting.
The new outbreak began in August, but just two or fewer cases have been reported each day, CDC officials said.
It was only in the past few days that investigators were able to hone in on a particular food, Lynch said.
ConAgra is destroying all affected products the company still has, the FDA said.
The company will cease production until the exact cause of contamination can be identified and eliminated. Meanwhile, ConAgra advised consumers to destroy any Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111.
The FDA sent investigators to ConAgra's processing plant in Sylvester where the products were made to review records, collect product samples and conduct tests for salmonella.
Kaitlin'smom replied: I heard this this moring, I have to go home and check my peanutbutter....both Kait and I have had some of the the jar, I hope its not one of them 
Boo&BugsMom replied: I knew there was a reason I passed up the Peter Pan PB at Sam's! We got Jif instead!  Man...all these things make me want to just grow and process all our own food. Crazy! 
luvmykids replied: Ew ew ew. Wasn't ConAgra involved in the spinach outbreak too?
BAC'sMom replied: Well I just checked and we have a jar with those no's.
Great now what do I do beside not eat it! 
jcc64 replied: We only eat the kind with no added sugars- with the oil on the top. This has not been implicated, right?
C&K*s Mommie replied: yikes! thanks for the heads up Amy
coasterqueen replied:
That's what we use too, well organic (has oil on top) and I didn't see it implicated in there.
amynicole21 replied:
ConAgra advised consumers to destroy any Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111.
My good friend's dd was sick all last week... they found 3 jars of this in her grandmother's pantry 
Calimama replied: Gross. Thanks for the heads up! 
BAC'sMom replied: Well I guess we were lucky no one has been sick here. I called my sister to tell her to check her PB and she had a jar too.
hopefulmomtobe replied: I live in Georgia and this is where it was manufactured, sorry guys!!! I just checked and we have it at home AND at my work! OMG! GROSS!!! I ate some of it too the other day and my kids live off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Thank goodness everyone seems to be ok. Anyone know the signs of salmonella poisioning that I should look for? Isn't it diahrea and stuff, getting really sick like the flu????
Maddie&EthansMom replied: Ewwwwww! 
I checked our pantry and we did have some Peter Pan in there, although we haven't been using that kind. It was reduced fat and didn't have the code 2111. I will still get rid of it. I, too eat the natural PB w/the oil at the top. I think it's Smuckers.
Cece00 replied: AWESOME, my kids JUST ate some of the PB with the 2111 code on the top. 
Oh well, they have been eating it and no one has gotten sick (me & DH included) so even though I think we're OK, I just dumped that in the trash can...both jars.
Guess I'm gonna have to go get a safe brand of PB, since my kids eat it a few times a week.
C&K*s Mommie replied: We have some that Chris just bought last night, but it was unopened.
Kellie (who is a BIG pb eater) does not like the oil on top type of pb, but for the time being I may start buying it and if she eats it or not so be it.
Kaitlin'smom replied:  I have some, both Kait and I had some over the weekend, how long does it take to see symptoms any one know??? I am they shoudl refund our money, I mean my jar is new and we have only had a little of it. thats money wasted
amynicole21 replied:
You would have felt it by now. It's basically just food poisoning. Puking and diarrhea. People with weakend immune systems or the very old/young are motr at risk, but I think you are in the clear at this point.
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