Salmonella Strain in King Nut Peanut Butter Found in Connecticut
Genetically Matches the Strain Implicated in the Nationwide Illness Outbreak
HARTFORD, January 20 -- Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. today announced that genetic testing on the 5-lb unopened tub of King Nut peanut butter found by food inspectors last week at a West Haven distributor has produced the first independently confirmed genetic match for the salmonella strain responsible for the nationwide outbreak. This finding definitively links the peanut butter sample implicated in the recent outbreak back to the manufacturer, Peanut Corporation of America.
“Our work has been instrumental in helping the U.S. Food and Drug Administration track and isolate the source of this tainted product, which has been linked to the death of several people and illness in hundreds,” Farrell said. “Thanks to the fine collaborative efforts between our Food Safety program and the Department of Public Health, this lethal outbreak may soon be contained.”
“Thus far, Connecticut's King Nut peanut butter sample is the only intact sample that has been found with a PFGE that matches the outbreak strain as determined by clinical sample analysis,” Roberta F. Wagner, Compliance Director with the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition wrote in a communication today to Commissioner Farrell. “It is therefore very important to get this message out,” she concluded.
PFGE refers to Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis, an electrophoresis technique for separation of large DNA for analysis.
Salmonella was found previously in an open five-pound tub of King Nut peanut butter in Minnesota. Connecticut’s finding, in an unopened tub of peanut butter, is the first sample linking the contamination directly back to the manufacturer.
The genetic results were reported out by the Department of Public Health Laboratory on Sunday. Department of Consumer Protection inspectors continue to work with the Public Health laboratory and epidemiologists to prevent the further ingestion of this product by Connecticut consumers.
Peanut Corporation of America sells King Nut peanut butter -- through various distributors -- only to food service and food processor accounts. It is not sold directly to consumers. King Nut does not supply any of the ingredients for the peanut butter distributed under its label.
“We have obtained distribution information and are conducting recall effectiveness checks,” Farrell said. “While the recalled peanut butter itself is not sold at retail, I strongly reiterate the FDA’s advice that consumers avoid eating cookies, cakes, crackers, ice cream and other products made with peanut butter until the full scope of this outbreak can be determined.”
FDA has posted on its website a searchable list of products and brands associated with the expanded PCA recall at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm . The list is updated as additional sub-recalls occur and as more information is received from the industry. Consumers are encouraged to first visit FDA’s website to learn which commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products are subject to recall. If consumers cannot determine if a certain prepared product contains peanut butter or peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America, the FDA urges that they not consume those products.
Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. Older adults, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to experience severe illness, and should be seen by a physician if they experience these symptoms.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection continues to work with United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to assist in the evaluation of recalls of food and other products.
CUB FOODS™ BRAND PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES RECALLED AS PART OF NATIONWIDE PEANUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA RECALL
Cub Foods® is Recalling Cub Foods™ Brand Peanut Butter Cookies
Sold at Stores in Minnesota and Iowa
Stillwater, MN (January 20, 2009) – CUB FOODS is voluntarily recalling five peanut butter cookie products made in its bakery departments because they may contain peanut butter that has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. The precautionary move follows a nationwide recall issued by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) of Parnell’s Pride brand peanut butter, which is used in some store bakeries.
The products were sold at Cub Foods stores in Minnesota and Iowa and are marked with a sell-by-date through and including January 26, 2009. The identified items have not been directly linked to the salmonella outbreak and there have been no reported cases of the illness. However, because the safety of customers is a top priority and out of an abundance of caution, Cub Foods has voluntarily recalled the products.
This product recall includes all:
Product Name and Description: Cub Foods™ Peanut Butter Cookies, 12ct /12 oz
UPC#: 41303-63070
Product Name and Description: Cub Foods™ Peanut Butter Cookies, 24ct /24 oz
UPC#: 41303-63003
Product Name and Description: Cub Foods™ Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies, 18ct /11 oz
UPC#: 41303-67091
Product Name and Description: Cub Foods™ Peanut Butter Blossom Tray-9 inch 36ct /22 oz
UPC#: 41303-63056
Product Name and Description: Cub Foods™ Iced Peanut Butter Cookies w/ Chocolate Icing, 12ct /12 oz
UPC#: 41303-63028
Customers who have purchased the affected products should bring the product back to a Cub Foods store location for a full refund or exchange.
Based on information from the FDA at this time, the peanut butter for sale in Cub Foods stores is not affected by the recall issued by Peanut Corporation of America.
Customers who have health-related concerns should contact their physician. Customers can also visit the FDA Web page at www.fda.gov for more information and updates on the situation.
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Recall -- Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Evening Rise Bread Co. Recalls Peanut Butter Cookies and Bars Because of Possible Health Risk
Contact:
Evening Rise Bread Co.
208-634-5031
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- January 19, 2009 -- Evening Rise Bread Co. of McCall, Idaho is recalling Peanut Butter Cookies and Peanut Butter Bars, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The peanut butter cookies and the peanut butter bars were manufactured using peanut butter recalled by Peanut Corporation of America because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Peanut Butter Cookies and Peanut Butter Bars were distributed in retail stores through Evening Rise Bread Co., McCall, Idaho; First Idaho Bank, McCall, Idaho; Roadhouse Java, New Meadows, Idaho; Mountain Java Coffee Shop, McCall, Idaho; Common Ground Coffee Shop, McCall, Idaho; and Moxy Java Coffee Shop, McCall, Idaho.
The Cookies and Bars are individually packaged in clear Cellophane bags. The label is a sticker with the Evening Rise name and NO other additional information.
No known illness or injuries have been reported in connection to these Cookies and Bars. The recall was initiated after it was determined that Peanut product received was from Peanut Corporation of America. Evening Rise has informed FDA of its action and is fully cooperating with the agency.
Consumers who have purchased the Peanut Butter Cookies or Peanut Butter Bars are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-208-634-5031.
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