Peanut butter recalled due to salmonella concern

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

A first-of-its-kind recall for peanut butter is under way in the wake of a salmonella outbreak that has slowly built in the United States from the first cases reported in August. Nearly 300 cases reported in 39 states have been linked to tainted peanut butter.

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 have died, said Dr. Mike Lynch, a CDC epidemiologist.

About 85 percent of the infected people said they ate peanut butter, CDC officials 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.

Tom Burrow, Ramey Price Cutter assistant store director, Nevada, said he hadn't been told which peanut butter varieties to pull but once they had that information they would pull them off the shelves.

"They give us the number on each one and we pull it off the shelves and send it back to the manufacturer unless they tell us to destroy it," Burrow said.

The local Wal-Mart, distributors of Great Value products, has pulled all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter varieties off of their shelves until they can determine whether any of them are part of the affected batch, according to Steve Brigham.

"We haven't gotten any information on which ones are affected," Brigham said. "We pulled all the Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter off of the shelves until we know. We've had some people come in to return peanut butter and we've given them refunds even though we don't know for sure they're affected."

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. Con Agra says consumers who have any of the affected peanut butter should take the lid off of the jar, discard the jar and send the lid to their offices in California. The address is Con Agra Foods, P.O. Box 3768, Omaha, NE 68103.

Jeannie Baldwin, Vernon County Health Department, said she didn't have any more information specific to the recall but said salmonella affects some people more than others.

"There is a risk of contamination of salmonella," Baldwin said. "People especially at risk are the very elderly, the very young and those with underlying health problems."

"Salmonella can be difficult to identify because we are in the middle of the flu season," Baldwin said. "If you have fever, diarrhea and cramps you should check with your doctor, especially if you have other health problems."

A local woman who has two children and baby-sits two others says she found she had some of the affected peanut butter but hadn't used it.

"I have two jars of the Great Value peanut butter with that number on them," Keri Yount said. "Fortunately, I had some other peanut butter that I opened first."

''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,'' 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, an Associated Press report said.