Update on Salmonella Outbreak

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Based on information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state health officials are warning that three brands of peanut butter toppings are part of the original recall of peanut butter products. The FDA has found the Salmonella tennessee strain in the ConAgra Foods plant environment in Sylvester, Georgia. This plant sent bulk peanut butter to its plant in Humboldt, Tennessee, where it was used to make the toppings."These products were recalled on February 16, but may still be in someone's household," said Lynae Granzow, epidemiologist at the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). "Finding the Salmonella tennessee strain in the Georgia plant further suggests the contamination likely took place before the product reached consumers."
Hoosiers who have any of the products listed below should discard them. People who are not sure if the product contains the recalled peanut butter topping should contact the store where they purchased it.
 

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 Feb. 16, 2007, when the product was recalled. The topping was used in the following Sonic products:
          o Peanut Butter Shake
          o Peanut Butter Fudge Shake
          o Peanut Butter Sundae
          o Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae
    * Carvel Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb. 10 oz. cans. Carvel used the topping until Feb. 16, 2007, when the product was recalled. The topping was used in the following Carvel ice cream products:
          o Chocolate Peanut Butter
          o Peanut Butter Treasure
          o Peanut Butter & Jelly
          o ReeseÂ's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae Dasher
          o 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.

There are now 15 confirmed cases of Salmonella tennessee throughout Indiana included in the national outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 370 cases in 42 states involved in the Salmonella tennessee outbreak, which is ongoing.
People should discontinue eating and discard any Peter Pan peanut butter purchased since May 2006, or Great Value peanut butter in jars with a product code beginning with 2111 that were purchased since May 2006. The Salmonella tennessee strain has been found in open jars of both brands of the recalled peanut butter.
Health officials say symptoms of Salmonella can begin within six to 72 hours of eating the peanut butter. Symptoms of Salmonella include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, cramps, nausea, and gas. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. People with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems are at risk for life-threatening infections. Most cases of Salmonella infection are short lived, and do not require medical care or antibiotics. However, many other bacteria and viruses have the same symptoms.
People who would like a refund should save the lid and contact ConAgra Foods at (866) 344-6970 for a refund. The CDC and FDA are testing unopened jars of the recalled peanut butter. Testing is no longer being conducted on opened jars from confirmed cases.
ConAgra manufactures Peter Pan peanut butter and some Great Value peanut butter in the same plant. The sole production plant is currently shut down and not producing any peanut butter until the FDA completes the investigation.
For more information on the outbreak, visit the ISDH Web site at http://www.statehealth.in.gov
 
Source:  Indiana Department of Health Press Release

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