Voluntary Recall of Peanut Butter Products in the United States Due to Possible Contamination with Salmonella
(Updated on 2 March 2007)

Background

On 1 March 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a further update on the recent peanut butter recall incident, and provided further details of the products being affected. Upon extensive follow-up inspection, the FDA revealed that the Salmonella found in the environment of the ConAgra processing plant located in Sylvester, Georgia, and in the open jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter recovered from consumers matched the outbreak strain recovered from consumers who became ill.

According to the FDA news release, ConAgra is recalling all Peter Pan peanut butter and all Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code “2111”. The company's recall extends to products made since December 2005. The FDA continues to advise consumers not to eat any Peter Pan peanut butter or any Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code “2111”. The FDA advises consumers who have any of the products listed below should discard them:

• Sonic Brand Ready-To-Use Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb. 10.5 oz cans. Sonic outlets used the topping until 16 February 2007, when the product was recalled. The topping was used in the following Sonic products:
  • Peanut Butter Shake
  • Peanut Butter Fudge Shake
  • Peanut Butter Sundae
  • Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae
• Carvel Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb. 10 oz. cans. Carvel used the topping until 16 February 2007, when the product was recalled. The topping was used in the following Carvel ice cream products:
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter
  • Peanut Butter Treasure
  • Peanut Butter & Jelly
  • Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae Dasher
  • 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.

Actions Taken by the CFS

On 15 February, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) made an appeal to the trade to stop selling all Peter Pan peanut butter and all Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code “2111” and the public not to consume them. The CFS issued food alerts on 15 and 26 February 2007 on the incident. The trade and the public are reminded to take appropriate actions. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the situation and take action as appropriate.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterium with widespread occurrence in animals, especially in poultry and swine, as well as environmental sources such as water, soil and animal faeces. Acute symptoms of Salmonella infection may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever, and headache. Chronic consequences such as arthritic symptoms may follow 3-4 weeks after onset of acute symptoms. These symptoms could be particularly serious and life-threatening in young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

High-risk Food

Typical foods that have been found contaminated by Salmonella include meat and meat products (e.g. roast beef, meat pies, sausage and ham), poultry and poultry products, milk and dairy products, as well as eggs and egg products (e.g. custards and cream cakes).

Advice to the Trade

• Stop selling the affected products.

Advice to Consumers

• Consumers who have purchased the affected products should stop consuming them.
• They should seek medical advice if symptoms develop.

Further Information

Further information about the incident can be obtained from the following webpages:

• FDA website
• The CFS press release
• The CFS food alert – Updated on 26 February 2007
• The CFS food alert – 15 February 2007
• The CFS pamphlet on Salmonella Food Poisoning

Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2 March 2007