Peanut Butter Recall News

FDA Update

Salmonella found in the ConAgra Plant

As a follow-up to the recent Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting an extensive inspection of ConAgra's Sylvester, Georgia processing plant. Samples collected by the FDA revealed the presence of Salmonella. The fact that FDA found Salmonella in the plant environment further suggests that the contamination likely took place prior to the product reaching consumers. Last week, tests by several states identified Salmonella in many open jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter recovered from consumers. In these instances, the Salmonella found in the plant and in the open jars matched the outbreak strain recovered from consumers who became ill.

Peanut Butter Toppings Part of Recall

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Government Launches Criminal Probe In Peanut Recall

Posted By Sharon Theimer and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press January 31, 2009

WASHINGTON – Responding to reports of shoddy sanitation practices and inspections, federal health officials have opened a criminal investigation into the Georgia peanut-processing plant at the center of the national salmonella outbreak.

The Obama administration on Friday pledged stricter oversight of food safety to prevent breakdowns in inspections.

Officials say Peanut Corp. of America sold tainted peanut products to food makers. At least 529 people have been sickened as a result of the outbreak, and at least eight may have died because of it. More than 430 products have been recalled.

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Peanut Butter Recall Expands To Army Warehouses

Posted by Julie Schmit and Elizabeth Weise, USA Today January 31, 2009

Worried about salmonella, the U.S. Army said Thursday it is removing some peanut butter items from warehouses in Europe, the latest in an ever-growing list of recalled peanut products linked to a salmonella outbreak in the U.S.

The Army's recall does not affect Meals-Ready-to-Eat, but another kind of military food called Unitized Group Rations-A, which provide a complete 50-person meal.

The recall of peanut butter and paste products made at a Georgia plant was expanded Wednesday to include two years of production, making it one of the largest recalls ever, the Food and Drug Administration says.

The expansion will engulf many more products beyond the 432, including crackers and cookies, already on a list kept by the FDA.

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Kroger Issues Peanut Recall

Posted on CNNMoney.com February 2, 2009

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Kroger - a grocery store chain with stores in 31 states - has issued a recall for foods made with peanut products, widening recalls related to the Peanut Corporation of America.

The Food and Drug Administration has accused the Peanut Corporation of America of knowingly selling peanut butter and peanut paste that was contaminated with salmonella. The peanut butter and peanut paste have been used to make food products nationwide.

The Georgia-based company is being investigated in connection with a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 people and has been linked to eight deaths.

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FDA Website Lists Peanut Butter Recall Items

Posted at IndyStar.com January 26, 2009

With nearly 500 confirmed cases of salmonella across the country -- six of which occurred in Indiana -- the Food and Drug Administration has created a Web site that lists products containing potentially contaminated peanut butter.

The site, which includes pet food, be found at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm and will be updated on a regular basis.

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Peanut Butter Recall Spreads To More Products

By Mark Huffman, Consumer Affairs.com

Two years ago, when ConAgra recalled Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter over possible Salmonella poisoning, it sent consumers scampering to their pantries to see if they had any of the recalled product on their shelves.

This month's King Nut peanut butter recall is different. That brand isn't sold directly to the public, so consumers don't have any sitting on their shelves. But on the other hand, it might be contained in some other products in their pantries, which could make it even more dangerous.

A week after King Nut began recalling its peanut butter, sold to manufacturers and institutions like schools and nursing homes, other food manufacturers that use peanut butter are following suit.

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Peanut-butter recall grows as Arizonans get sick

by Ginger Rough - Jan. 21, 2009 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic

The scope of a nationwide salmonella investigation mushroomed Tuesday as manufacturers recalled dozens of snack products popular with children and young adults.

More than 470 people in 43 states, including 10 here in Arizona, have fallen ill in recent months.