FDA Update on Peanut Butter
Recall Salmonella found in the ConAgra Plant

FDA Release P07-32 1mar2007

As a follow-up to the recent Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting an extensive inspection of ConAgra's Sylvester, Georgia processing plant. Samples collected by the FDA revealed the presence of Salmonella. The fact that FDA found Salmonella in the plant environment further suggests that the contamination likely took place prior to the product reaching consumers. Last week, tests by several states identified Salmonella in many open jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter recovered from consumers. In these instances, the Salmonella found in the plant and in the open jars matched the outbreak strain recovered from consumers who became ill.

Peanut Butter Toppings Part of Recall

FDA has learned that the ConAgra plant in Sylvester, GA, sent bulk Peter Pan peanut butter to its plant in Humboldt, TN. The three brands described below are part of the original Peter Pan recall. These brands have been recalled and are no longer being sold. However, some consumers may still have these products in their home.

Consumers who have any of the products listed below should discard them. Individuals who are not sure if the purchased product contains the recalled peanut butter topping should contact the store where the product was purchased.

The bulk peanut butter was used to make the following toppings:

• Sonic Brand Ready-To-Use Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb. 10.5 oz cans. Sonic outlets used the topping until 2/16/07, when the product was recalled. The topping was used in the following Sonic products: - Peanut Butter Shake - Peanut Butter Fudge Shake - Peanut Butter Sundae - Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae 
• Carvel Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb. 10 oz. cans. Carvel used the topping until 2/16/07, when the product was recalled. The topping was used in the following Carvel ice cream products: - Chocolate Peanut Butter - Peanut Butter Treasure - Peanut Butter & Jelly - Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae Dasher - Any other customized products containing the Peanut Butter Topping, including peanut butter flavored ice cream in ice cream cakes 
• J. Hungerford Smith Peanut Butter Dessert Topping in 6 lb. 10 oz. cans: This topping may be used by retail and restaurant outlets throughout the United States but is not available for direct purchase by the public. Recall Status and More Information

ConAgra informed the public that it is recalling all Peter Pan peanut butter and all Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111. The company's recall extends to products made since December 2005. FDA's advice to consumers continues to be not to eat any Peter Pan peanut butter or any Great Value peanut butter beginning with the 2111 product code.

FDA will provide updates on recalled products, including any other products that may have been made with potentially contaminated peanut butter and distributed to consumers.

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 or death. Individuals who have recently eaten peanut butter-containing products from these companies and who have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately and report the illnesses to their state or local health authorities. Similarly, institutional food establishments and other food service providers who have received reports of illness from consumers after they consumed a product containing this peanut butter are encouraged to share that information with their local health department.

FDA is continuing to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with states and local officials to identify how the contamination occurred in order to prevent similar foodborne illness outbreaks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE P07-32 March 1, 2007 Media Inquiries: Michael Herndon, 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

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source: 1mar2007

Mindfully.org note:
Continued from above. . .  Peanut butter — any nut butter — should be made from that particular nut and nothing else. No, ladies and gentlemen, this stuff should not have been sold in the first place. And that would have prevented the salmonella health concerns. Doesn't anyone care about the fact that even if this pseudo-peanut butter meets FDA standards, that it is still unhealthy to eat. The processed food products that are for sale in most supermarkets should not be eaten. Take a look at the ingredients and you'll understand a little about why. The methods for growing and processing the ingredients of most foods for sale across America ignore many serious health issues, and salmonella is just one of a long list. It doesn't matter where one looks, problems will be found. Even the packaging is unhealthy. The reason we don't hear about other problems is because nobody is asking pertinent questions. 

Typical non-peanut ingredients added: salt (1.5%±), hydrogenated vegetable oil (0.125%±), dextrose (2%±), and corn syrup (up to 4%±). Of these, the ones most troublesome are the hydrogenated vegetable oil and the salt. The main reason for adding hydrogenated oil is to give a considerably longer shelf life. Another lesser reason is that it adds a smooth feel on the tongue. 

Trans fat is directly associated with heart disease and increases in LDL cholesterol, the kind that can clog arteries. There is no safe amount of trans fat in the diet. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain trans fats, are present in about 40 percent of the food on grocery store shelves. Cookies, crackers, and microwave popcorn are the biggest carriers of trans fats, which are created when hydrogen is bubbled through oil to produce a margarine that doesn't melt at room temperature and increases the product's shelf life.

Even food labeled "low in cholesterol" or "low in saturated fats" may have high percentages of trans fats.