Salmonella Outbreak Due to Peanut Butter

[Doondoo]

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.

.......

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, Ga., 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.



http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070215/D8N9SUH00.html

[Quakerfriend]

1. We shall see all kinds of 'firsts' among products made with GE

foodstuffs- in this case peanuts.

[SheilaT]

3. Why do you say the peanuts

here were GE peanuts? Nothing in the article indicates that.

[mzmolly]

25. The article wouldn't necessarilly mention it.

I think it's interesting "food" for thought. ;)

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/16307294.htm

[NickB79]

46. That release is only 2 months old

So I doubt they managed to go from the development stage of GM peanuts to full-blown production in time to get into peanut butter produced in the last month or two. As far as I can tell, there are currently no genetically engineered strains of peanuts grown in the US on more than a research level, ie a few acres on test plots (at least, I couldn't find any mention of them with a Google search).

[mzmolly]

49. Peanuts uses in PB may not come from US supplies?

However, I make no assertions in this regard. Just noting that GM peanuts are in the works here.

[kestrel91316]

28. Don't be absurd. GE had nothing to do with this.

I hate GE foods probably more than most, but don't blame GE when sloppiness with poop is the problem.

[AnneD]

38. People always set their mouse traps with cheese...

when it is PB that attracts the rodents every time. If you have never seen a peanut warehouse-I'm surprised it hasn't happened before.

[kenny blankenship]

65. What did they do--cross chickens with peanuts?

[Robbien]

2. I wonder about the reason certain contaminated food stories make news

when hundreds of very serious contaminations are ignored.

Upon hearing this one this morning my first reaction was, "hmmm Peter Pan has certainly riled one of their competitors or is strongly resisting a leveraged buyout. Or some other somesuch. No way is this about contamination."

[hlthe2b]

6. That is just stupid...

Hundreds of public health colleagues in multiple states worked on this Salmonella outbreak for months along with CDC. Are you saying that Peter Pan was not involved? You have NO idea how hard it is to epidemiologically implicate a product with sufficient certainty to get a recall... I can ASSURE you, no one in public health gives a damn who manufactures a given contaminated product.

Why do some DUers insist on directing a tin foil hat theory towards EVERYTHING with no evidence whatsoever. That's as bad as many of the right wing smear campaigns... :eyes:

[Robbien]

9. Yes I do know that is is extremely hard to get a recall

Almost impossible these days which is why I question it.

I can ASSURE you, no one in public health gives a damn who manufactures a given contaminated product.

Yeah right. There are stories every day about money changing hands in exchange for public assets and safety. Just today a story about pollutions controls thrown away:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2732011

I am happy to see there are some people who still do their jobs, but am very aware that the upper ranks of your endeavors are controlled by money and power.

[hlthe2b]

10. This is a public health action... not talking EPA

your ignorance is telling. But continue to throw stones at those trying desperately to fight back the corruption and manipulation of this administration. Just paint them ALL with the same nasty stripe... Pretty soon those dedicated few who fight so hard for YOU WILL leave and the where will YOU be?

[Robbien]

11. Keep it up

can you get any nastier

Calling people stupid, crazy, ignorant, Rolling eyes and yelling.

There is no wonder people have little faith.

[hlthe2b]

12. Robbien...

think for one minute who constitutes your fellow DUers... There are people at many levels working in the Federal, State, and local agencies that you cast such aspersions against. Do you REALLY believe they are all working against your best interests? When you cast such long shadows of ill intent, it is not simply unfair... Ironically, this thread alone disproves your contention that we (who work in public health sectors) are all corrupted by the system....


Ignorant, by the way, means uninformed, not stupid. It is not a pejorative. Your statement may strike me as stupid, but I do not believe you to be stupid, just ill informed.

[Spangle]

23. Smart or stupid

Imparting information in a way that a person will listen is smart.

Imparting information in a way that a person will ignore, is stupid.

Being rude is a sure way to get a persons information ignored. But the person speaking will get attention.

So, if a person was wanting attention, I guess it's a smart thing. But Not if they really wanted the information paid attention to.

[hlthe2b]

24. re:

OF course you are right, Spangle... Many here have been accused of everything short of genocide by the anti-vaccine, anti-HPV anti-Public Health posts here lately... Throwing around tinfoil accusations with no evidence appears to be fast becoming the norm here. Simply pointing out the correct information is the way I would prefer to approach the problem as well-- and it does work with most reasonable people, I agree. But, not all.

Perhaps when an issue upon which you have worked extensively and with incredible dedication becomes controversial without justification, and your work or profession or colleagues are swept up in the accusations, you will come to understand, as perhaps the OP-- to whom I apologize for offending with my harsh counter.

[Spangle]

33. Well..

And you know I haven't been in that situation exactly how?

If you were on the recieving end of the attack, would you give credit to the attacker? Once comments become an attack, the point of the post IS an attack. Everything else will be ignroed. Which makes the post a wasted energy.

[kestrel91316]

30. Don't feel singled out. Many DUers hate us private practice

veterinarians, too, and we are only peripherally part of "the system".

[hlthe2b]

41. I guess we are in good company...

...

So, who are the "trust-worthy good guys" nowadays?

[kestrel91316]

43. Uhhhh............probably the HS dropouts. 'Cause education is

where they suck all your brains out, I guess.

I don't go over on the pets forum much because of the nonsense some folks there are spouting, and the nasty attacks when I dare to pull rank and point out how wrong they are.

[Double T]

14. In these bushco times, the reality is often a conspiracy..........

powered and perpetrated by the corporate and political power and wealth criminals.

[SnowGoose]

16. If you suspect conspiracy, tampering is a more likely suggestion

than collusion between public health practitioners and academics and the peanut butter cartel.

You could send in a covert operative to put a contaminant in the peanut butter during the manufacturing process.

If that sounds implausible, compare that with the difficulty of organizing the many different public health professionals (who do tend to be a little idealistic) to come up with *the same* bogus data, and have no one with a conscience who squeals to the press that you approached them with this scheme.

One of the beauties of applying science to questions like public health is that people end up publishing their work, and the knowledge that thousands of skeptical eyes will be perusing your methods and conclusions makes an organized attempt at deception considerably less appealing.

[hlthe2b]

17. Absolutely, SnowGoose.. eom

[Robbien]

18. I am not saying conspiracy

I am saying why is Peter Pan getting the news attention.

Contamination is proven in many foods and food services. Today alone google tells me about contamination in Hershey, a Kitty food, Brussel Sprouts, infant formula, fish and of all things shopping carts.

My point was, I question Peter Pan getting the heavier news attention.

[hlthe2b]

20. The brand names have to be identified along with product codes

in order to inform the public of risk... That is how recalls work. It is routine.

CDC with state and local public health officials investigate. Their findings are relayed to FDA, who, in discussions with the manufacturers, evaluate the data. CONAGRA (parent company to Peter Pan) voluntarily instituted the recall after seeing the data and released their own press release, part of which follows:

"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 our top priority," Chris Kircher of ConAgra Foods said. "'We are working closely with the Food and Drug Administration to better understand its concerns, and we will take whatever additional measures are needed to ensure the safety, quality and wholesomeness of our products."


Where is the conspiracy?

[AnneD]

40. Considering that...

children are the largest group that consumes PB and that many of the wee ones have a hard time surviving samonella-I think this DOES need to be made very public. Great Value is the Wal Mart brand. I can't think of a buyer there...:dilemma:

[Deb]

4. Thanks for posting this

Just got off the phone with my elderly parents, they have jars of the recalled Peter Pan. Here is a link with free ph# and instructions for refunds.

http://investor.conagrafoods.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=97518&p=irol-newsArticlemedia&ID=963451&highlight=

[ellenfl]

67. thanks for the link. i was going to return mine to the store. eom

[notadmblnd]

5. I have t wo jars in my cupboard

where in the hell do you take recalled peanut butter?

on edit.. never mind.. I read the article and got the address.

No wonder it was on sale

[Rosa Luxemburg]

29. we have a jar with A111 code

but not 2111

[MoJoWorkin]

7. I have eaten half a jar of the stuff in the past couple of weeks ---

I don't appear to have any ill effects so far

[fed-up]

8. please give this recs so others can read it-at least my kid doesn't like Peter Pan nt

[ms liberty]

13. K&R to keep this visible for others...

Practically everyone eats PB, hell, mr liberty just about lives off PB - but he eats JIF, not Peter Pan.

[Ilsa]

15. Oh shit! that is on my jars! I'm calling the grocery store! nt

[durrrty libby]

19. I live on peanut butter but buy the fresh ground type at my local grocer

Recently I bought a jar of Jiff because they were out of the fresh stuff

Anyway, it tasted soo sweet that I couldn't eat it
I can't believe they put sugar in peanut butter, but it is true


After reading about this contamination, I will not buy anything but fresh ground

Thanks for the heads up

:yourock:

[hlthe2b]

39. I'm will you.... re: Sugar filled peanut butter...

Especially the "low fat" varieties that substitute sugar for the fat they remove is horrible to me... I have to wonder if that added sugar doesn't induce cravings to eat more, as I've seen several family members sit there and eat the entire large jar of "low fat (sugar-filled)" peanut butter, something I'd ever seen them do with regular or fresh organic PB.

[JackCo]

21. I have four jars

in total and ate out of one of those yesterday. I'm hoping the local grocer will do an exchange.

[Ilsa]

22. Was in too big of a rush earlier... THANK YOU for posting. nt

[Chomskyite]

26. A question:

Why are there eggs in peanut butter?

[kestrel91316]

32. WHO said there are eggs in PB? Perhaps you are making an

ill-informed assumption.

Here on DU???? Nah. THAT could never happen.

[kestrel91316]

27. The microbiologist in me wants to know HOW THE HELL DO YOU

CONTAMINATE PB WITH SALMONELLA???????????

Salmonella is a FECAL bacterium. Yes, I know peanuts grow under the ground, but for crying out loud - somebody is using raw manure on peanut fields???????? Or worse yet, somebody is POOPING in the peanut fields??????? Or somebody at the PB factory pooped and didn't wash their hands????? Jeebus H. Christ.

[hlthe2b]

35. It appears that contamination at the manufacturing plant

is the ongoing hypothesis. FDA is onsite at the plant investigating further.

Two closely related DNA fingerprint patterns of Salmonella Tennessee isolates have been associated with this outbreak, which started in August of 2006 and has resulted in 288 confirmed cases in 39 states through 2/14/07.

[Chomskyite]

50. If any egg product is an ingredient

. . . and that egg product wasn't pasterized or was allowed to sit, salmonella becomes a risk.

[rocktivity]

31. Deregulation can kill.

Or this an example of money trumping public health?

:scared:
rocknation

[LeftHander]

34. Was it the peanuts or the extra fat they put in it?

Natural peanut butter is 100% peanuts...garbage like Peter Pan is 80% fat additives and 20% peanuts...

Years ago some jackass figured out they could increase profit by cutting it with fat and sugar.

Long tactic to increase profits by replacing the main ingredient with fat and high fructose corn syrup or simply more air and packaging...more crunch in some foods, means less product, more air, higher profit, new convienent packaging means less food more cardboard and plastic. What is cheaper? The food or plastic and cardboard?

I hate that when food companies do shit like that.

[lpbk2713]

37. Cardboard and plastic?

Why bring Domino's pizza into this fray?

:sarcasm:

[kenny blankenship]

68. New packaging proposal for Peter Pan brand peanut butter:

Now with 100% less added chicken shit!
(may contain irradiated poultry scat as a filler or substitute)

[AnneD]

36. They just pulled all the PB

at our school and sent out warnings. This is big news in elementary schools.

[sakabatou]

42. I'll stick to my Skippy

[KansDem]

44. All of a sudden I have this urge to eat a peanut-butter and jelly "samwich"

Mmmmmm...mmmmm...world problems go away,
PBJ is here to stay!


...and a glass of milk, too!


I feel so much better! :9

[davsand]

45. Darn it! I have three jars of Peter Pan!

ALL of them have that 2111 code on the lid, and one of them is half eaten. What REALLY peeves me is I just bought two of them on a "buy one get one free" deal a couple of weeks ago!

I know organic is probably no safer, (just ask the spinach eaters!) but I think I'm maybe gonna start buying organic peanut butter... Anyhow, I called home and told kevsand "Dude, DON'T eat the peanut butter." He laughed and reminded me that he's been eating Skippy lately anyhow because he likes the "Super Chunk" stuff.

Am I REALLY gonna have to mail those damn lids back to Peter Pan for a refund? THAT sucks.



Laura

[Pithlet]

47. I don't buy Peter Pan or Great Value brands, but I forwarded this

to a bunch of people and a few have replied they have those jars, and didn't know about it. Thanks for posting this. This needs to get out to as many people as possible before anyone else gets sick.

[TroglodyteScholar]

48. Dammit!

Last time we went shopping, my wife bought the "giant effing tub" size Peter Pan, and it's one with the 2111 code on the lid. GRR.

Ooh, but I found this info in the story linked at Yahoo! news:

To get a refund, consumers should send lids and their names and addresses to ConAgra Foods, P.O. Box 57078, Irvine, CA 92619-7078. For more information, call [phone].

At least I get my money back...

[lapauvre]

51. Thanks.

We've got two jars of Great Value with the 2111 code. Thanks a lot for posting this.

jd

[Robb]

52. Hm. I've got a "2111" jar in my pantry!

Interestingly enough, I'm allergic to peanut butter. I bought it to bait treats for the doggies now and again.

I should point out I bought this jar at least a full year ago. Of course I'm pitching it now, but still.

[A Brand New World]

53. I have a jar too for just the reason you stated - to give a pill

to my dogs and as a nightly snack for the dogs. I did though have a spoonful of it myself a few days ago. The past couple days I've been headachy and kind of queasy so maybe that's why. Also one of the dogs was kind of sick last night. So of course the jar is going back for a refund. I called the store and they said just to bring it in and they'd exchange it.

[llmart]

55. I thought I was the only one who did that..........

My doggie gets peanut butter in her Kong every morning before I go to work. It keeps her busy for awhile. She is now addicted to it:)

[clspector]

54. I have a jar of this lot number

in my kitchen right now. I've eaten a couple of sandwiches from it and I'm fine. But I won't be eating any more from it, needless to say. Just because there is a risk of contamination, doesn't mean there is contamination. But I'm glad they did the recall, better safe than sorry.

[samplegirl]

56. Throw out your Peter Pan

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=2876333&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312&partner=google&gclid=CJ7JqvC_s4oCFR16IgodY1feDg

[wakeme2008]

57. need to match real title :) nt

[meegbear]

58. But I like this version ...

:cry:

[samplegirl]

59. I had two jars

with 2111. I always buy Peter Pan.

[kenny blankenship]

60. You got salmonella in my peanut butter!

Before we go any further with this--how the fuck did you get salmonella in my peanut butter?!?!?
Seriously HOW? Did you screw on the lids while wearing raw chicken cadavers as gloves?

[knowbody0]

61. choosy mothers choose JIFFY!

dontcha know?

[Possumpoint]

62. P. O.

Throw it out? I keep a stock of PB around for my wife and grandchildren. There are 4 or more jars here, some opened, others not. At about $2 a jar it won't break me but I'm going to take it back to the grocery store and see if they'll honor a return, especially on the unopened jars.

[JohnnyRingo]

63. Don't listen to these recalls...

This is another example of "The Man" trying to "keep us down" through fear and peanut butter anxiety.

Any bacteria present will just leave your immune system stronger and more able to fight infections, so go ahead and eat it and put JohnnyRingo in your will. :)

[samplegirl]

66. You just want

my car! :puffpiece:

[saracat]

64. I thought it meant get rid of Bush!

[Tight_rope]

69. Damn...I had peanut butter cracker two days ago...and I'm sick

But I really have had a cold since Monday...damn can't sue Jiffy.