What you need to know about peanut butter recalls and salmonella
EUGENE, Ore. -- The FDA is urging people not to eat foods containing peanut butter -- like cookies, crackers, ice cream and snack bars -- because of a national salmonella outbreak.
Here's what you need to know to stay safe:
So far, more than 470 people have gotten sick in 43 states, and at least 90 had to be hospitalized. At least six deaths are being blamed on the outbreak. Salmonella is a bacteria and the most common source of food poisoning in the U.S., causing diarrhea, cramping and fever.
There are seven confirmed cases of in Oregon.
The FDA has traced the salmonella to a plant in Georgia that belongs to the Peanut Corporation of America. Their peanut paste is used in products across the U.S.
Here are the latest peanut butter recalls:
-
Kellogg's is recalling 16 products, including Austin and Keebler peanut butter sandwich crackers, Softbatch Homestyle peanut butter cookies and Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies.
-
Little Debbie is recalling its peanut butter toasty and peanut butter cheese sandwich crackers.
-
Wal-mart is recalling its store brand of peanut butter cookies.
An FDA food expert said they don't know the full extent of the danger yet.
"In terms of food products that contain peanut butter but have not yet been recalled, we urged consumers to postpone eating these product until further information becomes available about whether that product has been affected," said Stephen Sunlof of the FDA's Food Safety Center.
The FDA says brand peanut butters like Jif, Skippy, Smuckers and Adams are safe.
Local bakeries and food companies have not been affected by the recall, based on research conducted for this story.
Local grocery stores have pulled recalled products from their shelves.
The symptons of the salmonella bacteria include diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. Victims may also experience chills, headache, nausea and vomiting.
It is especially dangerous to the very young, old or people with weak immune systems.
Kellogg says FDA confirms salmonella in crackers
By EMILY FREDRIX Associated Press Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kellogg Co. said Monday federal authorities have confirmed that salmonella was found in a single package of its peanut butter crackers, as a Midwestern grocer recalled some of its products because of the scare.
Kellogg had recalled 16 products last week because of the possibility of salmonella contamination.
On Monday, the company based in Battle Creek said that contamination was confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration in a single package of Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter.
Food companies and retailers have been recalling products with peanut butter in them because of suspicion of contamination amid a salmonella outbreak that has killed at least six people and sickened more than 470 others in 43 states. At least 90 people have been hospitalized.
Also Monday, Midwestern grocer and retailer Meijer Inc. said it was recalling two types of crackers and two varieties of ice cream because of the possibility of salmonella contamination: Meijer brand Cheese and Peanut Butter and Toasty Peanut Butter sandwich crackers, and Peanut Butter and Jelly and Peanut Butter Cup ice cream.
It was not immediately clear how many packages of Kellogg crackers had been tested, if more tests were being made on other products or if some had already been found not have salmonella, Kellogg spokeswoman Kris Charles said. A spokesman for the FDA said the agency was not providing any new information Monday.
The government on Saturday had advised consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing peanut butter until health officials learn more about the contamination.
Officials said that most peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets appears to be safe.
Officials have been focusing on peanut paste and peanut butter made at Peanut Corp. of America's plant in Blakely, Ga.
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.)
Some Little Debbie products join snack food recall
WASHINGTON (AP) — The company that sells Little Debbie snacks announced a recall Sunday of peanut butter crackers because of a potential link to a deadly salmonella outbreak.
The voluntary recall came one day after the government advised consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods with peanut butter until health officials learn more about the contamination.
The announcement by McKee Foods Corp. of Collegedale, Tenn., about two kinds of Little Debbie products was another in a string of voluntary recalls following the most recent guidance by health officials.
The South Bend Chocolate Co. in Indiana said Sunday it too was recalling various candies containing peanut butter from Peanut Corp. of America. In suburban Chicago, Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products recalled several brands of peanut butter cookies it sells through Wal-Mart stores.
Peanut Corp. expanded its recall Sunday to all peanut butter and all peanut paste produced at its Blakely, Ga., plant since July 1.
McKee said it had not received any complaints about illnesses from people who ate any size peanut butter toasty sandwich crackers or peanut butter cheese sandwich crackers. The recall covers crackers produced on or after July 1.
