Peanut Butter Update 1/21/09

January 20, 2009

Update on FDA's Investigation

Arlington, VA -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting a very active and dynamic investigation into the source of the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. At this time, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state partners have traced sources of Salmonella Typhimurium contamination to a plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), which manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste—a concentrated product consisting of ground, roasted peanuts—that are both distributed to food manufacturers to be used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream. In addition, PCA peanut butter is distributed to and institutionally served in such settings as long-term care facilities and cafeterias.

The FDA has notified PCA that product samples originating from its Blakely, Georgia (Ga.), processing plant have been tested and found positive for Salmonella by laboratories in the states of Minnesota and Connecticut. Connecticut and Minnesota have reported to FDA that samples of King Nut peanut butter tested in those states are a genetic match to the strain of Salmonella associated with the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium. The results from the Connecticut Department of Health Laboratory are from an unopened container of King Nut peanut butter. FDA wishes to acknowledge the Connecticut laboratory, Infectious Disease Section and Department of Consumer Protection as well as health officials in Minnesota for their efforts.
King Nut is a distributor of PCA product. This information, along with the results available from laboratory testing and the CDC epidemiological analysis, have now led FDA to confirm that the source of this outbreak is peanut butter and peanut paste produced by PCA at its Blakely, Ga. processing plant.

On January 18, PCA expanded its previous voluntary recall to include more products and lot numbers relating to peanut butter and peanut paste products manufactured on or after July 1, 2008, at its Blakely, Ga., plant because of potential Salmonella contamination. The peanut butter products being recalled are sold by PCA in bulk containers ranging in size from five (5) to 1700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. These products are not sold directly to consumers. PCA has stopped all production at its Blakely, Ga. plant as the FDA continues its investigation. Based on this information, and on the current state of the investigation, the FDA recommends that consumers avoid eating products that have been recalled and discard them.

Major national brands of jarred peanut butter are not affected by the PCA recall. PCA does not sell
peanut butter directly to consumers. PCA only sells peanut butter to institutions and food manufacturers (some of which use it as an ingredient in other processed/packaged foods). Some food manufacturers use PCA peanut butter or peanut paste in baked or processed foods, such as crackers, cookies, cakes or ice cream to name a few. The FDA and food manufacturers are working to identify products that may be affected, and to track the ingredient supply chain of those products to facilitate their removal from the marketplace.



Based on available information, FDA and CDC recommendations include:

For Consumers
FDA has created a searchable list of products and brands associated with the expanded PCA recall. This list is available on the FDA website at:http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm and will be updated on a regular basis as additional sub recalls occur and information is received by FDA from the industry.

Because identification of products subject to recall is continuing, the FDA urges consumers to first visit FDA’s website to determine if commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream) are subject to recall. If consumers do not find the product of interest on FDA’s website they may wish to call the toll-free number listed on most food packaging or visit the company’s website.

If consumers cannot determine if their peanut butter, peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products or institutionally-served peanut butter may contain PCA peanut butter/peanut paste, we recommend that they do not consume those products. Efforts to specifically identify products subject to the PCA recall and to continuously update consumers are ongoing.

Do not eat products that have been recalled and throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them.

Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers.

For Retailers
Stop selling recalled products.

For Directors of Institutions and Food Service Establishments
Ensure that they are not serving recalled products.

For Manufacturers
Inform consumers about whether their products could contain peanut butter or peanut paste from Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). If a manufacturer knows their products do not contain peanut butter or peanut paste from PCA, they should inform consumers of that. For specific guidance: Guidance for Industry: Product Recalls, Including Removals and Corrections

The FDA will closely monitor these events by continuing to work with the firms on the details of their actions, conducting follow-up audits and inspections, monitoring the progress of the firms’ actions, working with state and local regulatory authorities, and notifying our foreign regulatory counterparts of products that have now been confirmed as having been distributed internationally.

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N.G.A. is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. Most independent operators are serviced by wholesale distributors, while others may be partially or fully self-distributing. Some are publicly traded but with controlling shares held by the family and others are employee owned. Independents are the true “entrepreneurs” of the grocery industry and dedicated to their customers, associates, and communities. N.G.A. members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about N.G.A. and the independent sector of the industry, see the N.G.A. website: www.NationalGrocers.org.