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.
;)
Wonder how many are unemployed in Sylvester today?
Thanks, I had half a jar of Great Value with a 2111 number.
I'll tell Der Prinz to get some Harris Teeter brand!
I have 4! One of them I bought last week.
Uhhnnnnggghhh.....
> I pinged everyone I know to this thread
I'm not one to alarmist over such things. Many turn out to be media hype, as you well know.
But when I saw, other FReepers talking about it, I knew it was real.
I have even called some of my friends and relations directly.
A couple have found this stuff in their cabinets, and at least one is wondering if they hadn't been made sick.
FYI, It is on the lid.......
I'm very allergic to peanuts so there is nothing peanuts related in this house.
No product code - or anything else written - on the lid of this jar of mine.
I prefer JIF. Does that make me a choosy mother?
I have a friend who is allergic to peanuts. If he gets contact with even peanut dust, his whole head swells up.
It's scary.
> I'm a Skippy Super-Chunk kinda' guy m'self....
Choosy FReepers choose JIF. Which is what I had.
I've got some Great Value too.
I'm calling John Edwards tomorrow morning to file a class action lawsuit for us.
After his fees we'll each get 2 cents/jar less postage.
I usually eat the peanut butter, and toss the jar away. To each his own...
I took mine back to Wal Mart today and they refunded my money with no problem. My husband did get very sick after he ate a peanut butter sandwich. It was a new jar, too.
I wouldn't abuse my topical ping lists except reading the thread it appears MANY MANY FReepers have LOTS of these coded peanut butter jars at home. Please check yours to be on the safe side (and tell everyone you know!), and if you already knew about this alert, apologies!
I'm a tightwad, I'd take the jars back to the stores.
However, I usually buy Laura Scudders "Natural" style peanut butter, I don't think it is part of this recall, but I won't use it right now just incase.
I meant, IMO, I try not to eat anything from south of the border.
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