Area stores respond to peanut butter recall
06:58 PM CST on Thursday, February 15, 2007
ATLANTA — Consumers should throw away all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter jars produced by ConAgra that have a product code beginning with the number “2111” imprinted on the lid, ConAgra said in the aftermath of a salmonella outbreak.
Company officials haven’t said how much peanut butter will be affected by the recall, but said consumers can return the product lids for a full refund.
In Dallas-Fort Worth, grocery stores and food banks worked quickly to pull the affected products off shelves.
The outbreak has been linked to tainted peanut butter produced by ConAgra in a single facility in Sylvester, Ga. How salmonella got into peanut butter is still under investigation, Lynch said.
ConAgra said it was recalling products as a precaution.
“Although none of our extensive product tests have indicated the presence of salmonella, we are taking this precautionary measure because consumer health and safety is out top priority,” spokesman Chris Kircher said. “We are working closely with the FDA to better understand its concerns, and we will take whatever additional measures are needed to ensure the safety, quality and wholesomeness of our products.”
Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected, the FDA said.
At Mission Arlington, food bank officials checked for peanut butter to be recalled, said Tillie Burgin, executive director.
“We had about 10 jars and we pulled them off our shelves,” Ms. Burgin said.
The food bank plans to send in the lids for a refund to replace the peanut butter, she said.
Kroger stores pulled all Peter Pan peanut butter products from its shelves as a precautionary measure, spokesman Gary Huddleston said.
“We sell the Kroger brand and it’s not affected, as well as Jif,” he said.
Albertson’s also removed all peanut butter with the related product code number, spokeswoman Jennifer Vroman said.
“There hasn’t been a formal recall,” Ms. Vroman said. “We have pulled it as a precaution and for the safety for our customers. If any customer has that product, they can return it to the store for a full refund.”
Wal-Mart, which sells the Great Value brand, said it also has removed all affected peanut butter products.
"As an additional precautionary measure, we have also put a sales restriction on the products in question so that, should one inadvertently be scanned, a restriction notice will come up for the cashier," a Wal-Mart spokeswoman said in a statement.
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe this to be the first salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter in the U.S.
Since August, the outbreak has sickened 288 people in 39 states, federal health officials said Wednesday. About 20 percent of them have been hospitalized but none has died, said Dr. Mike Lynch, a CDC epidemiologist. About 85 percent of the infected people said they ate peanut butter, CDC officials said.
The largest number of cases were reported in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri.
Salmonella infection is known each year to sicken about 40,000 people in the United States, according to the CDC. Salmonellosis, as the infection is known, kills about 600 people annually.
Symptoms of salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting.
The new outbreak began in August, but just two or fewer cases have been reported each day, CDC officials said.
It was only in the past few days that investigators were able to hone in on a particular food, Lynch said.
The FDA sent investigators to ConAgra’s processing plant in Sylvester where the products were made to review records, collect product samples and conduct tests for salmonella.
The Associated Press and Dallas Morning News staff writer Kimberly Durnan contributed to this report