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A combination of epidemiological analysis and laboratory testing by state officials in Minnesota and Connecticut, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have enabled FDA to confirm that the sources of the outbreak of illnesses caused by Salmonella Typhimurium are peanut butter and peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at its Blakely, Georgia processing plant.
Peanut butter is sold by PCA in bulk containers ranging in size from five to 1,700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. Neither of these products is sold directly to consumers.
However, through its investigation, FDA has determined that PCA distributed potentially contaminated product to more than 70 firms, for use as an ingredient in hundreds of different products, such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy, and ice cream. Companies all over the country that received product from PCA have issued voluntary recalls of their products.
Products being recalled now include some pet food products that contain peanut paste that was made by PCA. While the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal, there is risk to people from handling these products. It is especially important for people to wash their hands and make sure that children wash their hands after feeding pets.
For the latest developments in this investigation, including recalls and advice for consumers, visit FDA's Web page on the Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html
FDA has also created a searchable database for these products, which can be found at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm
Protect Your Health
Joint FDA/WebMD resource
www.webmd.com/fda
Questions and Answers About the Recent Salmonella Outbreak
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph/faq.html
Date Posted: January 23, 2009
