FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain Jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ^ | February 14, 2007 | Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

[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.

[Hoosier Catholic Momma]

I just ate some peanut butter yesterday (opened a brand new jar). Looked at the brand in the cupboard...Peter Pan with the 2111!

I'm also 6.5 weeks pregnant--haven't been sick from either the peanut butter or the baby :)

[Old Professer]

I accused my wife of being a traitor the first time I had Skippy with sugar and then I found out they don't make it without sugar anymore.

I read the other thread earlier after I had read the article in the Tennessean and got so hungry for peanut butter that I emptied the Skippy jar and wrote it on the grocery list.

Followed that up with a fig bar.

[Bahbah]

Thanks, dina. I hadn't seen this. I will send it out to my family by email.

[Old Professer]

Make a batch of cookies with it, the heat from baking ought to kill it.

[Old Professer]

You'll know soon.

[Old Professer]

They're supposed to peel them?

[moondoggie]

I just checked the jar my hubby opened this morning.

GV with the dreaded numbers!

He's not home and I can't get ahold of him and I'm wondering how long it takes for illness to manifest itself?

[Chena]

Thank you, dinasour! I'm going to pass this on to family and friends.

BTTT

[AZamericonnie]

I apologise for the Ping List abuse

No abuse at all! I had to throw out a jar this morning myself. We had consumed about 1/4 of the jar with no ill effects....thank goodness!

[Buddy B]

My “Great Value” jar’s label reads:

Ingredients: Roasted Peanuts, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils {Cottonseed and Rapeseed}, Salt.

ALLERGY WARNING: CONTAINS PEANUTS.

Could any of the other ingredients be a cause for the illness, perhaps?

[Old Professer]

I told you a Tennessee toad jumped in the vat.

[Kylie_04]

EVERYONE I have talked to today (over 2 dozen people) that had either brand had those numbers as well...but we're all in the Southeast - so I guess that makes sense if that is the location code for that particular plant.

[Old Professer]

No, but the transfatty acids might kill you in the end.

[Lucky9teen]

Wow...it's a good thing I got Kroger brand, my kids eat it every day.

[Lucky9teen]

It's a pity that there's not an affordable home testing kit for salmonella, so that food wouldn't be wasted.

There is...$19.95

[Graybeard58]

Take it back where you got it and tell them you want your money back. I did.

[esquirette]

Look for the class action sharks on TV next week.

[Buddy B]

US FDA/CFSAN: Food Labeling Overview

Passing this along...some may want to surf it!

[Sherri-D]

uh oh, i bought Peter Pan with the number, i think it was at the base commissary. I'll have to call the number.

[Eaker]

Let's hurry up and finish it!