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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been receiving reports, from many states, of illnesses caused by a type of Salmonella called Salmonella Typhimurium. Several deaths may also be associated with this outbreak. Tests indicate that the people who became sick may have eaten the same contaminated food, because they were infected with the same strain of Salmonella Typhimurium (i.e., the strain of Salmonella shared the same genetic "fingerprint"). Additional information on the numbers of illness and the states in which they occurred can be found at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/.
A combination of epidemiological analysis and laboratory testing by state officials in Minnesota and Connecticut, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and CDC enabled FDA to confirm that the sources of the outbreak were peanut butter and peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at its Blakely, Georgia, processing plant. Peanut paste is a concentrated product consisting of ground, roasted peanuts that is distributed to food manufacturers to be used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream.
As a result of this finding, a number of foods containing peanut butter and peanut paste produced by PCA from July 1, 2008, to the present were recalled on January 13, 2009. On January 28, 2009, PCA expanded its recall to include all peanut products produced on or after January 1, 2007. Some of the recalls by firms supplied by PCA involve foods sold directly to consumers, such as peanut butter crackers, peanut butter cookies, and ice cream made with peanut butter, and some involve food product sold directly to institutions, restaurants, the food service industry, and private label food companies.
Yes, Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) is expanding its recall to include all peanuts and peanut products processed in its Blakely, Georgia, facility since January 1, 2007. The recall includes products that contain the following ingredients:
Major national brands of jarred peanut butter found in grocery stores are not affected by the PCA recall. However, some stores or boutiques purchase peanuts, grind them, and sell them as their own brand of peanut butter. It is possible that some of these type of products—known as “boutique” brands--could be affected by the recall.
Peanut granules are particles chopped to approximately 1/8 inch in diameter, made from peanuts with the peanut heart and germ removed that are dry or oil roasted and blanched.
Peanut granules may be used as a topping on confectionary products (such as cakes and doughnuts), baked products (such as crackers, cookies, candy, and snack bars), and ice cream products (such as ice cream cones and bars). Peanut granules may be added to peanut butter to make it crunchier.
Peanut meal is a by-product of the separation of different components (extraction) of peanut oil. It is used to make peanut butter and peanut paste. Peanut meal also may be used infrequently as an ingredient in animal feed.
FDA initiated an inspection of PCA's Blakely, Georgia, plant on January 9, 2009, shortly after the firm was implicated as a possible link to the ongoing outbreak. FDA's inspection, concluding on January 27, 2009, identified deficiencies related to the firm's manufacturing process, and cleaning programs and procedures for its manufacturing equipment. In addition, FDA's testing of environmental samples that were collected during the inspection revealed Salmonella present in the plant. PCA's records also indicate:
Because of these deficiencies, potentially contaminated products may be in the marketplace or in consumers' homes.
FDA's further investigation has revealed that products manufactured before July 1, 2008, may be contaminated with Salmonella. Because some contaminated products may currently be in freezers, pantries, or on retail shelves, PCA has expanded the recall to include all peanut products produced on or after January 1, 2007, at its Blakely, Georgia facility.
The expanded recall reflects information available only recently, including information in PCA's records and test information from FDA's environmental sampling at PCA's Blakely, Georgia, plant.
Yes, Canada refused a shipment of chopped peanuts from PCA in April 2008. The chopped peanuts had metal fragments in them. Under FDA's supervision, PCA destroyed the shipment to ensure that it would not be consumed. The state of Georgia, working under FDA contract, followed up by inspecting the Blakely facility to ensure that proper measures were in place to prevent this problem from occurring again.
This is an active and dynamic investigation. FDA is already working with the company and corporate purchasers of peanut butter and peanut paste from PCA to identify affected products and facilitate their removal from the market. FDA and state officials have visited in excess of 1,000 firms that purchased these products from PCA. FDA will continue the same type of work to track peanut granules, peanut meal, dry roasted peanuts, oil roasted peanuts, and additional peanut butter and peanut paste.
FDA also will continue to:
Yes. Pet owners can find a searchable list of all the food products recalled at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm#PetFood
Yes. The list is broken down by product categories such as Pet Food Product Recalls. The list also can be searched by entering a brand name in the search box, or a UPC Code Number, a product description, or any combination of brand name, description, and UPC code.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, contact your veterinarian.
The FDA has not received any reports of illness associated with the pet food products. For additional information and updates related to this Salmonella outbreak, please see http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html.
While the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal, there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet food products. Wash hands with hot water and soap before and after handling pet foods and treats and wash pet food bowls and utensils with hot water and soap after each use. For additional tips to prevent foodborne illness from pet food products, go to http://www.fda.gov/cvm/CVM_Updates/foodbornetips.htm.
Stop selling recalled products and check the recall list and press releases posted on FDA's website frequently to see if any new products have been added to the list.
Ensure that you are not serving recalled products and check the recall list posted on FDA's website frequently to see if any new products have been added to the list. Confirm with your suppliers the source of their peanut product ingredients.
Inform consumers about whether your products could contain peanuts or peanut products from PCA. If you know your products do not contain peanuts or peanut products from PCA, you may wish to provide consumers with this information. For specific guidance please see Guidance for Industry: Product Recalls, Including Removals and Corrections which can be found at www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/recalls/ggp_recall.htm.
The FDA will closely monitor these events by continuing to work with the firms on the details of their actions, conducting follow-up audits and inspections, monitoring the progress of the firms' actions, working with state and local regulatory authorities, and notifying our foreign regulatory counterparts of products that have now been confirmed as having been distributed internationally.
Many, but not all, of the people who became sick reported that they had eaten peanut butter in the week prior to becoming ill in institutional settings, such as nursing homes. Some of the other people who became ill reported eating a food that contained peanut butter or peanut paste.
Having this information, Minnesota state officials tested an open five-pound container of King Nut peanut butter from a nursing home where three patients were affected by the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium and found the peanut butter to contain the same strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that was associated with the illnesses. Because it is always possible that an open container was contaminated by someone or something else in the environment, FDA and the States began testing unopened containers of the same brand of peanut butter.
On January 19, 2009, testing by the Connecticut Department of Health on an unopened container of King Nut peanut butter showed that it too contained the same strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that was associated with the illnesses.
King Nut distributes peanut butter manufactured by the PCA in several states to institutions such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, and cafeterias.
The fact that the Salmonella Typhimurium was found in an unopened container of peanut butter indicates that the contamination took place at the processing plant. The PCA processing plant implicated in this outbreak is located in Blakely, Georgia.
The states began receiving reports of illnesses associated with this outbreak in mid-September 2008. CDC and the states launched an investigation to find out whether people who became ill had eaten one or more food items in common.
State health departments report certain illnesses to CDC. State health departments maintain surveillance systems for reportable infectious diseases, including salmonellosis, and routinely conduct a genetic analysis called pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) on each bacterial isolate to define its DNA fingerprint. Patterns may develop that indicate an outbreak. A surge of reported infections with a common DNA fingerprint over what is normally seen often signals the beginning of a common source outbreak.
CDC, working with the States, determines which foods the people who became sick had in common, and notifies FDA of their findings. FDA then can begin tracing these foods back through the food-supply chain, to look for the point (or points) where the foods may have been contaminated, so that further illness can be prevented.
Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea (sometimes bloody), vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps within12 to 72 hours after infection. Illness ranges from mild to severe. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, infants, the elderly, and people with impaired immune systems are more likely to become severely ill from a Salmonella infection than are others. When severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and can even cause death unless properly treated.
If you have the symptoms listed above, see your health professional. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. If your health professional determines you have the Salmonella infection, he or she will likely recommend that you increase your fluid intake to replace losses from diarrhea and, in some (but not all) instances, may also prescribe antibiotics to speed recovery. Your health professional can help you determine the right amount and type of fluid for your particular needs.