Please note: New product recalls are announced daily. Therefore, use caution even if your peanut butter products are not included in the lists below.

Many New Salmonella Infections Linked to Crackers

March 23 2009 UPDATE –Nearly two months after recalls of peanut products were first announced new illnesses have been reported as recently as the end of February. According to officials, about half of the new confirmed salmonella infections are in people who ate Austin or Keebler peanut butter crackers manufactured by Kellogg.

The crackers are only a small portion of the more than 3,400 products that have been recalled so far, but they have accounted for the largest share of the illnesses. Food safety experts say this is likely because the most dangerous amounts of salmonella bacteria showed up in the Austin and Keebler crackers and in King Nut brand peanut butter that were distributed to some health care facilities.

Though no new illnesses have been reported since February 24, experts worry that contaminated foods will remain in people’s cupboards for a long time to come. In addition, there is concern that some stores may not have removed all recalled products from their shelves. The Food and Drug Administration requests, but does not require, proof that recalled products have been destroyed.

Some Major Brands Confirm Food Safety

March 11 2009 UPDATE –The following major companies that have confirmed that their food brands are not affected by the recall:

• The Hershey Co.: all Hershey and Reese’s Products are safe
• Kraft Foods: Kraft, Nabisco cookies and crackers, and Planters products are safe
• Mars Snack Foods U.S.: M&M’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies, Snickers Brand, Twix Peanut Butter, Cookie Bars, and Kudos Peanut Butter Granola Bars are safe
• Girl Scouts of the USA: Girl Scout cookies are safe

Experts Explain Which Peanut Products Are Safe

March 10 2009 UPDATE –The recent salmonella outbreak has prompted over 3,000 product recalls, from cookies to nutrition bars. As the list of affected products continues to grow, food safety experts have offered the following tips on determining if your food is safe to eat:

• Most major peanut butter brands, like Jif and Peter Pan, are safe.
• Peanut oil is also safe because it’s processed separately from peanut butter and paste products.
• Check your pantry and cupboards for products that include peanut granules, peanut meal, dry-roasted peanuts, oil-roasted peanuts, peanut butter, and peanut paste.
• If you’re dining out, ask about dishes made with peanuts, especially Asian and vegetarian dishes.
• If you’re still not sure about a particular food or dish, it’s best to exercise caution.

The following new product recalls have been announced:

• Palmer Candy Company Salted Peanuts, Chocolate Peanut Clusters and White Peanut Clusters
• US Nutrition Met-Rx Protein Plus Chocolate Roasted Peanut Bars With Caramel
• Just Desserts 6" Peanut Butter Crème Cakes

Peanut Recalls Continue in Salmonella Outbreak

March 2 2009 UPDATE –The following new product recalls have been announced:

• Jelly Belly Chocolate Peanuts and Clusters
• Nature’s Path EnviroKidz Organic Crispy Rice Peanut Choco Chocolate Drizzle Bar
• Nature’s Path Organic Granola Bar Peanut Butter Chunky
• Nature’s Path Organic Granola Bars Peanut Choco Chocolate Drizzle
• Nature’s Path Organic Peanut Butter Granola Cereal
• Whole Foods Select Peanuts, Peanut Products, and Self-Serve Grind Peanut Butters
• Beneficial Foods/Nature’s Candy Peanut Butter Krinkles, Karob Krinkles, Peanut Chip Crunch Bars, and Peanut Caramel Omega-3 Uplift Bars
• Trader Joe’s Vegan Trail Mix Cookies, Sweet, Savory & Tart Trail Mix Bars and Trail Mix Fruit & Nut Bar
• Dr. Smoothie Peanut Butter Crunch Bio Bars

Salmonella Found at Texas Peanut Plant

Feb 19 2009 UPDATE –Tests have confirmed that ground peanuts at a Texas plant carried the same salmonella strain that has sickened hundreds of people across the country. This is the second plant operated by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) to be implicated in the outbreak.

Health officials say that a few illnesses have been linked to the Texas plant, but that the majority of illnesses were caused by products from PCA’s Blakely, Georgia facility.

Growing Product Recalls Hurt Peanut Industry

Feb 19 2009 UPDATE –Americans turn to peanut products in times of economic difficulty, and the peanut industry expected sales to soar this year. Widespread product recalls prompted by salmonella contamination have prevented this from happening, however, and the industry expects the situation to get even worse. So far, over 2,000 products have been recalled.

The following new product recalls have been announced:

• Bear Naked Peanut Butter Granola
• Four 1-800-Flowers.com Snack Tray Products
• Rite Aid Chocolate Peanuts, UPC 41008009472
• Rite Aid Chocolate Peanuts, UPC 1182289472
• Rite Aid Chocolate Peanuts, UPC 1182281008
• Rite Aid Bridge Mix, UPC 1182289959

Food Banks Hit Hard by Peanut Product Recalls

Feb 17 2009 UPDATE –Food banks are already struggling to meet public demand in the floundering economy. Now their task has been made even more difficult as a result of the widespread food recalls prompted by salmonella-contaminated peanut products.

Foods like granola bars, nuts mixes, and peanut butter are staples of food banks because of their long shelf life, but pantries across the country have had to throw them out for fear of salmonella contamination. Unfortunately, this purging coincides with an increase in the nation’s need for food pantry services. Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, says food banks across the country reported a 30 percent increase in demand in December 2008 compared with 2007.

In Houston, food bank workers have thrown out 3,000 pounds of food. In Chicago, officials have discarded almost 500 pounds, and a Lafayette, Indiana pantry has disposed of or quarantined 1,327 pounds. Federal health officials estimate 1,000 pounds of food can feed approximately 780 people.

Many Americans Are Unaware of Product Recalls

Feb 16 2009 UPDATE –Almost all Americans are aware of the recent recalls involving peanut products, but a study has found that many don’t realize that cakes, brownies, cookies, ice cream, and snack bars are also affected by the salmonella outbreak.

Of the 93 percent of surveyed people who knew about the peanut product recalls, fewer than half knew about the recalls involving cakes, brownies, cookies, and snack bars. Only one-quarter knew that some ice cream brands were recalled and less than one-quarter knew that jars of peanuts had been recalled.

The study, a nationally representative survey of over 1,200 adults, was conducted by the Harvard Opinion Research Program. It also found that six in 10 Americans have only "some" or "very little" confidence that the food safety system can be effective.

New Product Recalls Announced

Feb 16 2009 UPDATE –The following product recalls have been announced:

• Slim-Fast optima caramel crispy peanut MEAL on-the-go bars
• Slim-Fast MEAL OPTIONS Breakfast & Lunch Bars – Dutch Chocolate flavor
• Slim-Fast MEAL OPTIONS Breakfast & Lunch Bars – Peanut Butter flavor
• Balance Bar Company Honey Peanut Balance Nutrition Energy Bars
• Attain Nutrition Bars Chocolate Peanut Butter Flavor
• ProFlex15 and ProFlex20 Protein Bars Chocolate Peanut Butter Flavor
• Sam’s Choice Brand Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies – all lots/date codes
• Cascadian Farm Peanut Butter Chip Chewy Granola Bars
• Cascadian Farm Sweet & Salty Mixed Nuts Chewy Granola Bars
• Cascadian Farm Sweet & Salty Peanut Pretzel Chewy Granola Bars

More Food Safety Precautions Will Be Taken

Feb 12 2009 UPDATE –Health officials have told Congress that the peanut butter salmonella outbreak is already changing the way they approach food safety.

The head of the Food and Drug Administration’s food safety center said that agency inspectors will begin taking product samples for bacterial testing every time they enter a facility. Right now this is only done if they already suspect that there’s a problem.

The agency also said that peanut butter may be singled out for special attention. The government might designate it a high-risk food, meaning written safety instructions would have to be followed to prevent contamination.

The following new products have been recalled:

• Whole Foods Bulk Items
• Atkins’ Advantage Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Atkins’ Advantage Peanut Fudge Granola
• Atkins’ Day Break Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp
• Atkins’ Endulge Peanut Caramel Cluster
• Various American Nutrition Baked Dog Treats
• Nestle HealthCare Nutrition OPTIFAST Honey Nut ‘n Oat Nutritional Bars
• Cheryl and Co. Select Peanut Butter/Peanut Cookie and Dough Products Containing Peanuts

Salmonella Outbreak Could Have Many More Victims

Feb 12 2009 UPDATE –According to doctors, for every one reported salmonella illness, there are approximately 38 that go unreported. That means that the current outbreak could have over 20,000 victims.

Salmonella poisoning, or salmonellosis, occurs when salmonella bacteria are ingested and begin to grow in the intestines. Most people’s bodies can fight the infection off, but someone with a weakened immune system, or whose intestines contain a large amount of bacteria, might not be able to do so. The infection can then spread to the colon, leading to severe stomach pains, diarrhea, and fever, symptoms that generally last four to seven days.

The very young and very old are especially vulnerable to serious disease, and it can be fatal to people in these groups. In fact, there have been reports of children being hospitalized for days in the recent outbreak. There are thousands of different strains of salmonella, and doctors say they appear to affect the body in slightly different ways, depending upon age and gender.

Allegheny County Man Affected by Salmonella

Feb 11 2009 UPDATE –A resident of Allegheny County has been sickened by a strain of salmonella linked to Peanut Corp. of America (PCA) products. According to state health officials, the 45-year-old man became sick in early January after eating Austin Quality Foods crackers.

Over 15 people in Pennsylvania have been affected by the salmonella outbreak, one of them in Butler County. PCA is now under FBI investigation, and the list of their recalled products exceeds 1,840 foods.

Peanut Corp. of America Plants Raided, Shut Down

Feb 10 2009 UPDATE –Federal agents have raided two peanut processing plants operated by Peanut Corp. of America. One of the plants, located in Blakely, Georgia, has been identified as the source of the salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds across the country and has been closed. The other plant, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is the company’s headquarters.

In addition, Peanut Corp.’s Plainview, Texas plant has been shut down. According to reports, the facility had operated for years uninspected and unlicensed. In the midst of these announcements, product recalls have continued. The following products have been recalled:

• Expanded recall of Mister Snacks, Inc. various snack products
• Country Home Bakers Frozen Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
• Kmart items containing peanuts sold at Super Kmart Bakery
• Rite Aid Peanut Products
• Kings Super Markets Kings Branded and Bulk Peanut Products
• Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vegan Trail Mix Cookies, and Frozen Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
• Palmer Candy Peanut Clusters and Bridge Mix
• Star Kay White Inc. Peanut Products
• Nature’s Original Snack Mixes/Snack Nuts
• Rich Ice Cream Company Nutty Sundae Cone
• Happy Tails And Shoppers Valu Brand Multi-Flavored Dog Biscuits
• Chef Jay’s Food Products Containing Peanut Butter
• Stop & Shop Simply Enjoy Sweet and Salty Mixed Nuts

Recalled Peanut Butter in Kentucky Emergency Kits

Feb 10 2009 UPDATE –Approximately 600,000 fliers will be mailed to Kentucky residents who were victims of an ice storm, warning them not to eat peanut products from their emergency meal kits because it might be contaminated with salmonella.

The kits were recalled about two weeks before they were sent to Kentucky, where hundreds of thousands of people were left without power for days. Some kits contained peanut butter recalled in the salmonella outbreak.

The storm also struck Arkansas, but it appears that people there didn’t receive the kits.

Recalled Peanut Butter Sent to Schools

Feb 06 2009 UPDATE –Peanut products potentially contaminated with salmonella were sent to schools in three states for a free school lunch program in 2007. Officials at the Department of Agriculture said that peanut butter and roasted peanuts from the Peanut Corp. of America were sent to schools in California, Minnesota and Idaho.

More than 1,000 products have been recalled so far, and officials say that while the outbreak appears to be slowing down, new illnesses are still being reported.

Tainted Peanut Butter May Be in FEMA Kits

Feb 06 2009 UPDATE –The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said some emergency meal kits distributed to storm victims in Kentucky and Arkansas may contain recalled peanut butter. The kits might contain packets of peanut butter that are part of a national recall prompted by potential salmonella contamination. The agency advised people who have received meal kits to inspect them and immediately discard any peanut butter packets.

The list of affected products continues to grow. The following new recalls have been announced:

• Whole Foods Market Bulk Peanut Products
• Purity Dairies ½ Gallon Squares of Nutty Caramel Ice Cream
• Gel Spice Co. Recalls Small Chop Granules Peanuts
• Meadow Gold Dairy 56 Ounce Scrounds and Round Pints of Herd of Laughter Tin Can Alley Ice Cream
• Trauth Dairy 8 Ounce Cups and ½ Gallon Squares of Deluxe Peanut Caramel Crunch Ice Cream
• Broughton Foods 56 Ounce Scrounds of Premium Peanut Caramel Crunch Ice Cream
• Rich Products Corporation Peanut Butter Blast Pie and Red Robin 10” DD Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake
• Safeway Peanut Products
• Unilever United States, Inc. Breyers Tin Roof Sundae Ice Cream Products with Peanuts
• WinCo Foods Recalls Bulk Candy Items Containing Peanuts
• Amway Global Xs Energy Bar Chocolate Nut Roll
• Harry and David Nut Clusters and Pretzel Rods
• Weaver Popcorn Company Trail’s End Caramel Corn with Peanuts
• Wonder Ice Cream Company Candy Blast 10oz Cups
• Annie B’s Confections Peanut Containing Desserts
• Southwest Specialty Foods Supplied by Peanut Corporation of America
• Omaha Steaks Bridge Mix with Chocolate Covered Peanuts
• Various Mister Snacks, Inc. Snack Products
• Shamrock Foods Company Nutty Sundae Cones
• Summerdale Peanut Co.10 Oz Bags of Baldwin County Fried Peanuts
• Nutsco Peanut Products
• Cherrydale Manufacturing Target Archer Farm and Target Market Pantry Products With Peanuts

More Peanut Product Recalls Announced

Feb 04 2009 UPDATE –The following new product recalls have been announced:

• Georgia Peanut Commission Skinless and Honey Roasted Peanuts
• Bear’s Peanut Butter and Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
• Allegro Fine Foods, Inc. Wow Thai Peanut Wing Sauce & Dressing
• Aurora Products Containing Roasted Peanuts
• Grand Rapids Popcorn Medium Chop Granulated Peanuts
• Palmer Candy Company Blanched Salted Products
• Kerry Ingredients & Flavours Choco Fudge Peanut Ingredient
• CVS/pharmacy Gold Emblem Brand Candy Containing Peanuts
• Select Hershey Import Company Snacks
• Palmer Candy Company French Burnt Peanut and Boston Baked Bean Products
• Hershey Creamery Goo Goo Peanut Butter Ice Cream
• Blue Ribbon Ultimate Gourmet Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
• T F Processors Double Fudge Peanut Butter Brownies
• Dutch Valley Peanut Products
• Marathon Ventures Dry, Roasted Peanuts and Bridge Mix
• JL Manufacturing Candies Containing Peanuts
• Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Stores Premium Ice Cream Flavor "Peanut Butter Pretzel"
• Country Life Natural Foods Peanut-Containing Candies
• IFS Snacks Containing Peanuts
• Falcon Trading Company/SunRidge Farms Peanuts and Peanut Mix
• Natural Organics Nature’s Plus Nutritional Bars

The following recall has been expanded:

• GKI Foods Inc. Peanut-Containing Candies

The FDA’s website contains a complete list of product and lot information.

President Obama Promises FDA Review Amid Salmonella Outbreak

Feb 03 2009 UPDATE –President Barack Obama has promised an in-depth review of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amid the salmonella outbreak that has sickened over 500 people. He said that the FDA has not been able to address food safety concerns as quickly as he would expect.

Recalls linked to the peanut products responsible for the salmonella poisoning keep growing. One of the new recalls comes from Galliker Dairy of Johnstown, PA. Their Rocky Road Ice Cream and Sundae Nut Cones are included in the recall and were sold to foodservice and retail outlets in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The following additional recalls have been announced:

• Arico Natural Foods Arico Peanut Butter Cookies and Cookie Bars
• Chef Pierre Chocolate Peanut Butter Silk Pie
• Simbree Energy Foods Simbree Oat Almond Pistash
• Simbree Almond Pistachio Energy Bites
• Simbree Oat Bites with Peanuts, Almonds and Pistachios
• Orchard Valley Harvest Peanuts
• House of Flavors Hannaford Denali Nutty Moose Tracks ice cream
• Select Turkey Hill Ice Cream Flavors
• Lesserevil Brand Peanut Butter and Choco Kettle Corn
• Blue Bunny Personals Bunny Tracks
• Kroger Nut Topping
• Harry and David Olympia Delight Trail Mix
• HP Hood Ice Cream Products
• Bear Naked Appalachian Trail Mixes
• Select Weis Markets Ice Cream Products
• Ice Cream Specialties Ice Cream Novelties
• Pierre’s Ice Cream Company Sundae-Cone Style Products
• Publix Produce Snacks
• Kemps Ice Cream Products
• Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co. Select Products
• Zachary ConfectionsDouble Dipped Peanuts Chocolate Peanuts, Bridge Mix, Caramel Nut Clusters, and Peanut Clusters
• Zachary Confections Market Pantry Chocolate Covered Peanuts
• East Side Entrees Peanut Butter & Jelly Meal Breaks
• Standard Candy Goo Goo Cluster and Goo Goo Peanut Butter
• Schwan Ice Cream
• Bass Pro Shops Uncle Bucks Burnt Peanut Candy, No Sugar Added Chocolate Peanuts and No Sugar Added Peanut Clusters
• Publix Round Top Sundae Cones
• Select Hain Celestial Gluten Free Café Asian Curry Products
• Rucker’s Candy Customer Private Labeled Products
• Velvet Ice Cream Pulling Cone Products
• Select Pecan Deluxe Candy Company Products with Peanuts
• Kroger Peanut Butter Bakery Cookies and Select Cakes
• Walgreens Brand Candy Containing Peanuts
• GKI Foods Inc. Peanut-Containing Candies
• Genisoy Food Company Organic Apple Cinnamon Soy Protein Bars
• Werner Gourmet Meat Snacks Inc. Trail Mixes and Peanut Items
• Eillien’s Candies Select Peanut Candy Products
• Caribou Fruit & Nut Blend Trail Mix
• Cub, Flavorite, and Richfood Brands of Tin Roof Sundae Ice Cream
• Kellogg Select Keebler Soft Batch Cookies and Special K Protein Meal Bar Honey Almond Flavor
• Tropical Nut And Fruit "Granulated Peanuts"
• Ocean Spray 1.75 oz and 48 oz Fruit and Nut Trail Mix Products
• Hudsonville Ice Cream Announces a Recall of Candy Bar Whirl Ice Cream
• Prairie Farms Dairy Ice Cream Products
• Crown Pacific Fine Foods Peanuts
• Umpqua Dairy Tin Roof Sundae Ice Cream
• Walgreens Recalls Café W Brand Trail Mix
• Earth Island Select Follow Your Heart Deli Products with Peanut Butter
• Bartons, Cherrydale Farms, And Haddington Farms Products
• Austinuts Wholesale Honey Roasted Peanuts And Sweet & Spicy Snack Mix
• Kroger peanut butter store-baked and store-packaged cookies and select cakes
• Thrifty Nut Brand Honey Roasted and Dry Roasted Peanuts
• GloryBee Foods Peanuts
• ISS Research OhYeah! Bars
• Forward Foods DETOUR Branded Bars with peanuts
• Pecan Deluxe Candy Company Peanut Containing Products
• Stewart’s Shops Caramel Candy Bar Dip Ice Cream
• Nut Bar Company Candy Shoppe Double Dip Peanuts
• Nutrition Research Group/Advanced Nutrient Science Triple Delicious, All Natural Mega Protein and Oh Soo Good Bars
• Salix 6" Peanut Butter Filled Shank Bone

The following recalls have been expanded:

• NutriSystem Peanut Butter Granola Breakfast Bar
• Rain Creek Baking Corporation Peanut Butter Turtles, Peanut Butter Baskets, and Peanut Butter Princesses
• Clif Bar & Company CLIF and LUNA Branded Bars with Peanut Butter
• Select Perry’s Ice Cream Peanut Butter Ice Cream Products
• Nature’s Path Peanut Butter Optimum Energy Bars
• Best Brands Peanut Butter Frozen Cookie Dough
• Kellogg Company Various Crackers and Cookies
• Landies Candies Select Organic Peanut Clusters

Peanut Processor Expands Its Recall

Jan 29 2009 UPDATE –The recall of peanut butter and peanut paste products linked to the recent salmonella outbreak has been expanded to include two years of production. This makes the recall one of the largest in history.

The original recall affected products made since July 2008. The expanded recall includes all products made since January 1, 2007. More than 400 products have already been recalled, including Kellogg’s crackers and Jenny Craig nutritional bars. Because of the expansion, the list will continue to grow larger.

A Food and Drug Administration team inspected the Blakely, Georgia plant run by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) that has been identified as the source of the salmonella contamination. The team found that on 12 occasions in 2007 and 2008, tests conducted by the company found salmonella contamination in its products, but PCA shipped the products to customers anyway and did not clean the facility.

Processor Knew About Salmonella in Products

Jan 28 2009 UPDATE –The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accused Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) of knowingly shipping products contaminated with salmonella. Peanut butter and peanut paste sold by the manufacturer have sickened over 500 people across the country.

The FDA said that in 2007 and 2008 there were 12 instances in which plant officials identified salmonella in finished products but shipped them anyway. In some cases, PCA had the product tested again by a different laboratory and got a clean test result, FDA officials said. Michael Doyle, director of the University of Georgia’s Center for Food Safety, said that the product should have been destroyed after the first positive test result.

The outbreak has been particularly dangerous for children, said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Half of those affected are younger than 16, and 21 percent are under 5, according to the CDC.

Peanut Butter Product Recalls Continue

Jan 28 2009 UPDATE –The following new recalls have been announced for products containing peanut butter and peanut paste:

• Salix Healthy-hide Rawhide Dog Treats with peanut butter
• Carolina Prime Pet Dog Treats with peanut butter
• Creative Energy Foods nutrition bars
• SOPAKCO SURE-PAK 12 Meals containing peanut butter products
• Jenny Craig Jenny’s Cuisine® Anytime Peanut Butter Flavor Nutritional Bars
• Isagenix Chocolate Dipped Honey Peanut IsaLean Bar

In addition, ALDI released a statement about its products that have been affected by the recalls. It announced that it has two two suppliers that manufacture Cambridge cheese crackers with peanut butter, one of which is Kellogg’s. ALDI and Kellogg’s recalled the Kellogg-produced peanut butter crackers on January 15. The other manufacturer of their peanut butter crackers does not use ingredients from the peanut plant where the salmonella outbreak was reported. As a precautionary measure, however, ALDI has also recalled the additional Cambridge cheese crackers with peanut butter as well as their Grandessa peanut butter cookies.

The Kellogg’s Cambridge crackers have a net weight of 7.44 oz printed on the bottom of the package. The crackers produced by the second manufacturer have a net weight of 7 1/3 oz printed on the package. At this time, no other ALDI products are affected by the salmonella outbreak.

Peanut Butter Plant Cited for Violations

Jan 27 2009 UPDATE –Over the past several years, inspectors found sanitation violations at the Georgia plant that produced the peanut butter responsible for the recent salmonella outbreak, according to health inspection reports.

Georgia’s State Agriculture Department cited the plant multiple times in 2006 and 2007 for dirty surfaces, grease residue, and dirt buildup throughout the plant. Inspection reports from 2008 state that the plant was repeatedly in violation of cleanliness standards, including mildew on the ceiling of a storage room. Inspectors also found areas of rust that could flake into food, gaps in warehouse doors large enough for rodents to get through, unmarked containers, and numerous violations of other practices intended to prevent food contamination.

Moisture was blamed for an unrelated peanut butter salmonella outbreak two years ago. That outbreak was linked to a different Georgia peanut processing plant. The plant involved in this year’s outbreak, owned by the Peanut Corporation of America, has been shut down.

Additional Recalls Announced

Jan 27 2009 UPDATE –Additional products affected by the recent salmonella outbreak have been recalled amid health concerns. The following recalls were announced:

• Falcon Trading Company/SunRidge Farms Tropical Golden Nugget
• Falcon Trading Company/SunRidge Farms Chocolate Energy Bar
• Falcon Trading Company/SunRidge Farms Energy
• Falcon Trading Company/SunRidge Farms Naturally Preferred Honey Nut Nuggets

Officials Link Salmonella to Woman’s Death

Jan 23 2009 UPDATE –Heath officials have announced that the death of a Minnesota woman has been linked to the nationwide salmonella outbreak and now the infection may have contributed to seven deaths.

The woman was in her 80s and resided at a long-term care facility. The precise cause of death has not been determined, but investigators say that salmonella may have contributed. Most of the other deaths involved the elderly as well.

The list of products affected by the salmonella outbreak keeps growing. The following additional recalls have been announced:

• Supreme Protein Peanut Butter Crunch Bars and Caramel Nut Bars
• ShopRite Peanut Butter on Toasty Crackers
• ShopRite Peanut Butter and Cheese Cracker Snacks
• Stonewall Kitchen Chocolate Hazelnut Sauce
• Stonewall Kitchen Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Stonewall Kitchen Coffee Caramel Sauce
• Trader Joe’s Sliced Green Apples with All Natural Peanut Butter
• Stonewall Kitchen Dulce de Leche Sauce
• Barefoot Contessa Espresso Dulce de Leche
• Whole Foods Market "Whole Foods Carob Energee Nuggets"
• Sam’s Choice Brand Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
• Amway Global NUTRILITE Energy Bars
• Archer Farms Brand Milk Chocolate Monster Chewy Soft Baked Cookies
• Archer Farms Brand Double peanut Butter Chewy Soft Baked Cookies

Girl Scout Cookies Are Safe to Eat

Jan 23 2009 UPDATE –The Girls Scouts have announced that their cookies are safe to eat. Though experts are advising people to stay away from peanut butter products, the Girls Scouts are insisting that their products pose no health threats.

Their baker, ABC Bakers, voluntarily tests all of its peanut butter and no salmonella has been found. Officials, however, are urging people throw away any products in their home that contain peanut butter, except for plain, jarred peanut butter.

More Recalls in Salmonella Scare

Jan 23 2009 UPDATE –Health officials have announced that over 30 million pounds of peanut butter and peanut paste have been recalled in the salmonella outbreak. The effects of the outbreak have even reached overseas, with the Defense Department urging troops to discard any peanut butter products, like crackers or cookies, sent to them in care packages.

The following new recalls have been announced:

• Nash Finch Bakery Products with peanut butter
• Rain Creek Baking Corporation Peanut Butter Turtles
• Rain Creek Baking Corporation Peanut Butter Baskets
• Rain Creek Baking Corporation Peanut Butter Princesses
• Chef Jay’s Food Products with peanut butter
• General Nutrition Centers, Inc. GNC Triflex Peanut Butter Soft Chews
• Jimmy’s Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies
• Arbonne International Figure 8 Peanut Butter Chews
• Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars
• Trader Joe’s Nutty Chocolate Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars
• Trader Joe’s Sutter’s Formula Cookies
• Parker Products, Inc. peanut butter products
• Supreme Protein Peanut Butter Crunch Bars and Caramel Nut Bars

The following recalls have been expanded:

• South Bend Chocolate Company Candy with peanut butter
• Perry’s Ice Cream Company peanut butter products
• Kroger Select Ice Cream products

The FDA’s website has complete product information. According to the National Peanut Board, Americans eat 700 million pounds of peanut butter every year.

Peanut Corporation of America Sole Source of Salmonella Outbreak

Jan 22 2009 UPDATE –Federal health officials have confirmed that Virginia-based Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) is the sole source of salmonella-tainted peanut butter and peanut paste that has sickened people in more than 40 states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 14 institutions where people became sick bought peanut butter produced by PCA. Additionally, an agency analysis found that many of the people who became sick nationwide had eaten peanut butter sandwich crackers sold under Kellogg Co.’s Austin and Keebler brands. Kellogg, which used PCA’s ingredients, has recalled the products.

The following additional product recalls have been announced:

• Boca Grande Foods POCO PAC and GRANDE GOURMET peanut butter products
• Dinners Ready Meridian Asian Marinated Flank Steak
• Dinners Ready Meridian Indonesian Chicken
• Dinners Ready Meridian Chicken Satay
• Blanton’s Candies Peanut Butter Sticks
• Weis Quality Cheese Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
• Weis Quality Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
• Landies Candies Co. Peanut Butter Filled Chocolates
• Lovin Oven Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars
• Best Brands Peanut Butter Frozen Cookie Dough
• Aspen Hills, Inc. cookie dough products

Federal officials say that over 125 products have been recalled since the start of the salmonella outbreak. Almost 500 people have fallen ill and food poisoning may have contributed to at least six deaths.

Peanut Butter Products in Pennsylvania Recalled

Jan 21 2009 UPDATE –Additional recalls linked to the peanut butter salmonella outbreak have been announced. Among them are products made by Ready Pac Foods, Inc., distributed to various retailers in Pennsylvania, California, Utah, Illinois, Washington, Texas, New Jersey, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maryland. The following items are subject to the recall:

• Ready Pac Cool Cuts Celery with Peanut Butter 12/6.75 oz
• Trader Joe’s Celery with Peanut Butter 12/6.75 oz
• Trader Joe’s Celery with Peanut Butter 30/6.75 oz
• Eating Right Apples with Peanut Butter 12/6.75 oz
• Eating Right Celery with Peanut Butter 12/6.75 oz

Other recent recalls include:

• NutriSystem Peanut Butter Granola Bar
• Premier Nutrition TWISTED and TITAN Branded Bars with Peanut Butter
• PetSmart Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits
• Country Maid Classic Breaks Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
• Nature’s Path Peanut Butter Optimum Energy Bars
• Evening Rise Bread Co. Peanut Butter Cookies and Bars

The FDA’s website contains complete product recall information, including specific lots.

Salmonella Confirmed in Kellogg Snack

Jan 20 2009 UPDATE –The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that salmonella was found in a package of peanut butter sandwich crackers made by Kellogg. Kellogg’s Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with peanut butter is the first product sold to consumers known to have tested positive for the Typhimurium salmonella strain responsible for the outbreak that has sickened almost 500 people.

New recalls have been announced for other products sold to consumers through retail stores that may be contaminated with salmonella, including:

• General Mills’ Larabar and JamFrakas snack bars
• Kroger Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream
• Clif Bar & Company CLIF and LUNA branded bars containing peanut butter
• Abbott Nutrition ZonePerfect Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
• Abbott Nutrition ZonePerfect Peanut Toffee Bars
• Abbott Nutrition NutriPals Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Health officials say that more recalls are likely.

More Peanut Butter Products Recalled in Salmonella Scare

Jan 19 2009 UPDATE –The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers to avoid eating products like cookies, cakes, and ice cream that contain peanut butter until officials can further investigate the deadly Typhimurium salmonella outbreak that has affected hundreds across the country.

The agency said that most peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets is safe. Regulators are focusing on peanut paste and peanut butter that were produced at a plant in Blakely, Georgia, owned by the Peanut Corporation of America. The peanut butter was distributed to institutions and food companies in 24 states, including Pennsylvania and Ohio. The peanut paste is used in cookies, cakes and other products sold in supermarkets.

The Kellogg company has recalled 16 products, including snack-size packs of Famous Amos peanut butter cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle peanut butter cookies. The following peanut butter products have also been recalled:

• Wal-Mart Bakery Brand Peanut Butter Cookies
• Lofthouse Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chuck’s Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies
• Pastries Plus Gourmet Cookies
• Meijer Peanut Butter Crackers and Ice Cream
• Food Lion Bake Shop Peanut Butter Cookies
• South Bend Chocolate Products
• Little Debbie Peanut Butter Toasty and Peanut Butter Cheese Sandwich Crackers
• Perry’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream Products
• Hy-Vee Peanut Butter Bakery Products

The FDA’s website contains complete lists of recalled lots and products.

Peanut Corporation of America Expands Peanut Butter Recall

Jan 19 2009 UPDATE –Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) has expanded its recall of peanut butter products due to potential salmonella contamination. All peanut butter produced on or after August 8, 2008 and peanut paste produced on or after September 26, 2008 at the company’s Blakely, Georgia facility is affected by the recall.

The peanut butter is sold by PCA in containers ranging from five to 1,700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35 pounds to tanker containers. PCA is immediately halting all production at its Georgia facility.

The peanut butter was sold to institutions, food service industries, and private label food companies for bulk distribution. None of the peanut butter or paste was sold directly to consumers through retail stores. The company previously announced the recall of 21 lots of peanut butter produced on or after July 1, 2008.

Consumers Should Avoid Kellogg Peanut Butter Crackers

Jan 15 2009 UPDATE –Kellogg is recommending that consumers avoid eating its peanut butter crackers because they might be contaminated with salmonella. The following Austin and Keebler brand products are affected:

• Toasted peanut butter sandwich crackers
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich crackers
• Cheese and peanut butter sandwich crackers
• Peanut butter-chocolate sandwich crackers

Kellogg said that in addition to the warning, it is removing products from store shelves and putting a hold on its inventory. The company is taking these precautionary measures until health officials complete their investigation into the recent salmonella outbreak.

Additional Peanut Butter Recalled in Salmonella Outbreak

Jan 13 2009 UPDATE –Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) has announced a voluntary recall of its peanut butter because it may be contaminated with salmonella. Affected products were produced on or after July 1, 2008. Twenty-one lots of PCA peanut butter are included in the recall, all in containers ranging from five to 50 pounds.

The peanut butter is sold by PCA to distributors for institutional and food service industry use. It is also sold under the brand name Parnell’s Pride and by the King Nut Company under the name King Nut.

PCA initiated this recall because an open container of King Nut brand peanut butter in a long-term care facility in Minnesota was found to contain a strain of salmonella, Typhimurium, that matched the strain responsible for the national outbreak.

Pennsylvania Affected by Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak

Jan 13 2009 UPDATE –Over 10 Pennsylvania residents have been infected by the salmonella outbreak that has struck more than 40 states. Health officials say that residents of the following PA counties have fallen ill:

• Bucks
• Butler
• Chester
• Clinton
• Delaware
• Philadelphia
• Lancaster
• Lehigh
• Luzerne
• Montgomery

Most of the infections in the state were confirmed in the fall, with the latest confirmed on December 15. The Allegheny County Health Department reported 118 salmonella cases last year, up from 90 cases in 2007.

Peanut Butter Tainted With Salmonella Recalled

Jan 12 2009 UPDATE –The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that peanut butter is the "likely cause" of the salmonella outbreak that has sickened over 400 people and may have contributed to several deaths. Genetic testing showed that salmonella found in a 5-pound tub of King Nut Peanut Butter is the same strain, called Typhimurium, that is involved in the national outbreak.

King Nut Companies has issued a complete recall of its peanut butter. The product was sold to institutions like nursing homes, schools, and hospitals but not to individual consumers. No other King Nut products are affected by the recall.

Salmonella Outbreak Hits More Than 40 States

Jan 09 2009 ORIGINAL ALERT –A salmonella outbreak has sickened over 350 people in more than 42 states, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced. The CDC is working with state health officials to determine the source of the outbreak, which has been caused by a strain of salmonella called Typhimurium.

Since the illnesses began in September, more than 65 people have been hospitalized. The CDC and state health workers are tracking down people who have been sickened in an attempt to find a common thread in the foods they have consumed. The CDC said that poultry, cheese, and eggs are the most common sources of the Typhimurium strain.

So far, only Ohio health officials have agreed to announce their state as one of those affected, with approximately 50 cases. Every year, about 40,000 people are reported ill with salmonella in the United States, with many more cases going unreported, according to the CDC.