FDA: 31M Pounds Of Peanut Products Recalled; 480+ Sickened

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FDA: 31M Pounds Of Peanut Products Recalled
480+ Sickened In Salmonella Outbreak

Posted: Thursday, January 22, 2009

Federal health officials said the salmonella recall now involves about 31 million pounds of peanut butter and peanut paste.

That's a whole lot of peanut butter.

But consider this: The nonprofit National Peanut Board said Americans eat 700 million pounds of the gooey treat every year.

Peanut Corp. of America -- the company that made the recalled products -- isn't an industry giant. But its peanut paste is used by others to make dozens of goodies, from energy bars, to cakes, to dog biscuits. And the recall list keeps getting longer.

It's making the food industry nervous, although no major national brands of peanut butter are affected. Even the Girl Scouts are reassuring customers Peanut Corp. is not their supplier.

More than 480 people have been sickened in the outbreak, which has contributed to at least six deaths.

Visit the FDA recall page here.

Troops Urged To Dump PB Snacks In Care Parcels

The salmonella-and-peanuts investigation has the Defense Department urging troops to dump any peanut butter products, such as crackers or candy, sent to them in care packages.

"Based on my knowledge of the nonprofit groups that send care packages, I'm sure they will be vigilant and avoid shipping items that are being recalled," a Defense Department community relations spokeswoman told the American Forces Press Service.

"As an extra precaution, I would encourage service members to discard any peanut butter products that may have been shipped," she said.

Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that products produced since July 1 be avoided.


Previous Stories:
January 21, 2009: FDA: 125+ Products Recalled In Peanut Probe
January 20, 2009: Grocery Chains Pull Peanut Butter Products
January 19, 2009: Kellogg: FDA Confirms Salmonella In Crackers
January 18, 2009: Little Debbie Peanut Butter Crackers Recalled
January 17, 2009: Consumers Urged To Avoid Peanut Butter Products
January 16, 2009: Peanut Butter Probe Expands
January 15, 2009: Kellogg Pulls Peanut Butter Crackers
January 14, 2009: More Deaths Blamed On Tainted Peanut Butter
January 12, 2009: Peanut Butter Confirmed As Salmonella Source

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

[MonarC]

I saw this on the news. That sux cause I love peanut butter.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

I hope peanut butter cap'n crunch doesn't count cause I'm totally eating it as I read this.

[catlover79]

Scary.

[dawsongirl]

I just bought some Nutty Bars too. I'm not sure I should eat them.

[catlover79]

^ I wouldn't.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ I wouldn't.

I didn't specifically see them on the list, but then that list wasn't the most clear-cut list ever either. I was all excited about eating them too.

I did buy some peanut butter Girl Scout Cookies today though, since they said they were okay.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I just bought some Nutty Bars too. I'm not sure I should eat them.

Are those the Little Debbie kind? If so, I'd take them back to the store.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Are those the Little Debbie kind? If so, I'd take them back to the store.

Yeah, they are.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

Yeah, they are.

Darn, I'd be tempted to eat them myself. It's the only product made by Little Debbie that I like.

According to their website, The nutty bars are safe.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Darn, I'd be tempted to eat them myself. It's the only product made by Little Debbie that I like.

According to their website, The nutty bars are safe.

Well, that's good news.

[catlover79]

I love Nutty Bars...

[Crimson and Clover]

im glad the smuckers uncrustables arent affected by this. thats the only peanut butter stuff my kids eat.