Salmonellosis
- Outbreak Investigation, February 2007
Released February 15, 2007
(Updates will be provided on a weekly basis)
NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes. The content of this document has not been revised since its original release and therefore may no longer be up to date.
Public health officials in multiple states, with the
assistance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the U.S Food and Drug Administration are investigating
a large multistate outbreak of Salmonella Tennessee
infections. Interviews comparing foods eaten by ill
and well persons show that consumption of Peter Pan
peanut butter was statistically associated with illness
and therefore the most likely source of the outbreak. Although
the study did not specifically implicate Great Value
brand peanut butter, it is manufactured in the same
plant as Peter Pan peanut butter and therefore is believed
to be at similar risk of contamination.
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. These
products may have national distribution.
Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers
is not affected.
As of February 15th at 3PM EST, 290 persons
with Salmonella Tennessee, the Salmonella type
associated with this outbreak, have been
reported to CDC from 39 states: Alaska (1),
Alabama (9), Arkansas (3), Arizona (5), California
(1), Colorado (10), Connecticut (2), Georgia
(14), Iowa (6), Illinois (5), Indiana (13),
Kansas (6), Kentucky (9), Massachusetts (5),
Maryland (2), Maine (1), Michigan (5), Minnesota
(5), Missouri (13), Mississippi (3), Montana
(2), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (5), North
Carolina (15), New Mexico (1), New York (32),
Ohio (7), Oklahoma (10), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania
(23), South Carolina (6), South Dakota (5),
Tennessee (18), Texas (13), Virginia (17),
Vermont (4), Washington (4), Wisconsin (5),
and West Virginia (1). Among 185 patients
for whom clinical information is available,
44 (24%) were hospitalized. There have been
no reports of deaths attributed to this infection.
Onset dates, which are known for 171 patients,
ranged from August 1, 2006 to January 30,
2007.
CDC’s OutbreakNet (the network of
public health officials that investigate
foodborne illnesses nationwide) has been
monitoring this outbreak which has been prolonged
and of low intensity beginning with a few
cases in August and gradually growing. Public
health officials have been working to identify
the source of infection for several months.
Two closely related DNA fingerprint patterns
have been associated with this outbreak.
DNA fingerprinting is routinely done at public
health laboratories in all states as part
of PulseNet (the
nationwide network of public health laboratories
that sub-type bacteria).
Health officials and the peanut butter
manufacturer are working collaboratively
to learn more about production of peanut
butter to determine how it may have become
contaminated.
Persons who think they may have become
ill from eating peanut butter are advised
to visit their health care provider. Persons
who have become ill and have Peter Pan or
Great Value peanut butter with product code
beginning with “2111” should
set aside the jar for possible collection
by local health officials for further testing.
Persons who have not become ill and have
peanut butter with product code “2111” should
discard the jar.
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. The
elderly, infants, and those with impaired
immune systems are more likely to have a
severe illness.
Advice to Consumers
Additional Resourcess
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