Posted on 02/14/2007 9:35:51 PM PST by Buddy B
FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE P07-21 February 14, 2007
Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain Jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter Product May be Contaminated With Salmonella
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee (a bacterium that causes foodborne illness). The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number "2111." Both the Peter Pan and Great Value brands are manufactured in a single facility in Georgia by ConAgra. Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected.
If consumers have any of this Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter in their home that has been purchased since May 2006, they should discard it.
Symptoms of foodborne illness caused by Salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Individuals who have recently eaten Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.
FDA's warning is based on a just-completed epidemiological study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the states and local health agencies, which links 288 cases of foodborne illness in 39 states to consumption of varying types of Peter Pan peanut butter. This report was provided to FDA on February 13.
The outbreak appears to be ongoing and the first consumer may have become ill in August 2006. The cause of foodborne illnesses can be difficult to identify. As a result of extensive epidemiological testing and recent case control studies, CDC was recently able to identify Peter Pan peanut butter as the likely cause of illness. Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 is manufactured in the same plant as Peter Pan peanut butter and, thus, is believed to be at similar risk of contamination.
ConAgra is recalling all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 that already was distributed. The company also is destroying all affected products in their possession. The company will cease production until the exact cause of contamination can be identified and eliminated. ConAgra will advise consumers to destroy any Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 in their possession. To assist in this endeavor, FDA has sent investigators to ConAgra's processing plant in Sylvester, Georgia where the products are made to review records, collect product samples and conduct tests for Salmonella Tennessee.
FDA will provide regular updates as more information becomes available.
Consumers who have questions should contact ConAgra at 866-344-6970.
Are they roasted or dried prior to crushing for P.B.?
Never mind. They are roasted. I looked it up.
Those are the only two brands I buy (Walmart brand-Great Value- is very similiar in taste and texture to Peter Pan)
I will check tonight. A 13 year old boy friend of the family just died this week due to a 'stomach virus'. I wonder.... I need to call his Mama.
BTW, so ConAgra gets to just keep the $15 I gave them when I throw out my peanut butter?
What a Jiff! I mean gyp!
If nothing else, this is a good indicator that the inexpensive WM brand is pretty equivalent to the name brand.
I'll have to check it out next time.
SELF-PING
Got to check my pantry this evening...
Thanks for the ping!!!
Their private label stuff is generally as good as name brand (canned fruit, etc.) - I do the weekly shopping for the caregivers who look after my old parents; I remember buying some GV peanut butter, so I just phoned and told the gal to pull the jar out for my inspection later today....and NOT to make PBJ sammies for lunch!
Yep. Had it in my pantry. Almost empty. :(
Many 'private label' products are manufactured by the name brands, in the same factories, with the same ingredients.
We just tossed an open jar of PP, and swapped three unopened jars at the local Western NY Wegman's for other brands - NQA.
Hmm. Stayed home today b/c of stomache cramps and the like....have a 2111 jar. This explains everything.
Hope you get well soon. The only thing you can do is let the stuff have its way with you and it goes away. It's about the worst 24-48 hours you will have.
BTTT - we need to keep this thread on the top!
Thank you for posting this. I have two containers of PB with that code. I just ate some last night on some Club crackers and woke up this morning vomiting and I've felt lousy all day. Thanks so much for posting. Very important to know.
I think the homeschoolers need to know about this. I found out about it through my local homeschooling e-loop. I just threw out two jars.
Sionnsar,
Do you want to ping your lists on this?
I see the Great Value brand in place such as Wal-mart. Are they as good as the brand names? I'm always a little hesitant because I don't know who made the stuff.
Thanks for the information.
Thanks a lot! I just checked my jar of unopened peanut butter and I have the offending product code.
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