Some Products Excluded from Peanut Butter Recall

Salmonella Outbreak Not Linked to All PB Items

Jan 20, 2009 Kari Lomanno

The FDA has found salmonella in some peanut butter samples, but the recall does not include all peanut butter products.

On Jan. 13, 2009, Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) announced a voluntary nationwide recall of peanut butter produced in its Georgia plant because some samples tested positive for salmonella. PCA, a producer of peanut butter and peanut butter paste distributed to food manufacturers, later expanded its recall to include more products and lot numbers made on or after July 1, 2008.

The recalled products are not sold directly to consumers, but some products that contain peanut butter or peanut butter paste such as cookies, crackers and ice cream have been recalled and should be thrown away.

About Salmonella

This salmonella outbreak has reportedly made more than 470 people sick in 43 states and has killed at least six people. Salmonella is a group of bacteria often spread through feces contamination. It is the leading cause of food poisoning and can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most people recover without treatment, but it can spread from the intestines to the blood stream, which can be fatal. Infants and the elderly are the most vulnerable.

Products Included in Peanut Butter Recall

The Food & Drug Administration has created a Web site with a frequently updated list of recalled products related to the peanut butter recall. The list includes the following products:

• Wal-Mart Bakery brand Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies and Peanut Butter Fudge No-Bake Cookies
• Food Lion Bake Shop Peanut Butter Cookies
• Little Debbie Peanut Butter Toasty Sandwich Crackers and Peanut Butter Cheese Sandwich Crackers
• Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers and Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
• Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies
• NutriPals Peanut Butter Chocolate nutrition bars
• Kroger brand Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream
• Certain CLIF and LUNA bars that contain peanut butter

Products Excluded from Peanut Butter Recall

Not all peanut butter products are included in the recall. Brands that are not impacted by the government investigation include:

• Lance Inc., which makes Lance sandwich crackers
• Hershey Company, which makes Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• Mars Snackfood, which makes M&Ms, Snickers and Twix
• Tasty Baking Company, which makes Tastykake products
• ConAgra Foods, which makes Peter Pan Peanut Butter
• ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers, which make Girl Scout Cookies
• National name-brand jars of peanut butter

What Parents Should Do about Peanut Butter Recall

Parents should visit the FDA Web site to determine if they have any of the recalled products. If so, they should throw them away. This list is being constantly updated, so visit often. Consumers can also call the toll-free number listed on most food packages or visit the company’s Web site. The FDA recommends that if you cannot determine whether a food made with peanut butter is part of the recall, do not consume it.

Food recalls and salmonella outbreaks seem to occur every couple of years. It’s important for parents to stay informed and be cautious, but for the most part, food produced in the United States is extremely safe.

The copyright of the article Some Products Excluded from Peanut Butter Recall in Kids Products is owned by Kari Lomanno. Permission to republish Some Products Excluded from Peanut Butter Recall in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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