January 28, 2009

Peanut Butter Warning!

More than 100 peanut butter products are recalled after being tied to a nationwide salmonella outbreak

By Vickie An

Snack food aisles in stores across the country have been emptier these past few weeks. That's because more than 100 peanut butter products are being recalled. Health officials have linked the popular snack ingredient to a nationwide outbreak of salmonella poisoning.

ELLIOTT MINOR—AP The Peanut Corp. of America plant in Blakely, Georgia

Salmonella is a harmful bacteria. It is often carried by birds and reptiles. The bacteria can also be found in water, soil, raw meats and eggs. Eating food infected with salmonella can make some people very sick. Babies and the elderly are most affected by salmonella infection. Washing your hands frequently is a good way to guard against the nasty bug.

What Happened?

Products that have been pulled include everything from cookies and candy to ice cream and some pet foods. Nearly 500 people in 43 states have been sickened in the salmonella outbreak since September. At least eight deaths have also been tied to peanut butter products.

After conducting several tests, health officials are pointing the finger at a peanut processing plant in Blakely, Georgia. Salmonella contamination was found in the facility, which is owned by the Peanut Corporation of America. Production at the plant has been suspended.

The corporation sells peanut butter and peanut paste to more than 70 food companies throughout the United States. One of the companies is cereal giant Kellogg Co. Earlier this month, Kellogg recalled some of its Keebler and Austin brand peanut butter crackers as a precaution. Government officials say that major national brands of jarred peanut butter are not affected by the recall.

Not the First Time

The latest salmonella scare comes two years after an outbreak was traced to another peanut processing plant in Georgia. The tainted peanut butter was linked to at least 625 salmonella cases in 47 states. After that, officials began to crack down more on checking for bacteria during routine inspections.

Food safety expert Michael Doyle says that manufacturers have to be extra careful that peanuts are not contaminated after they have been roasted for peanut butter production. Peanut butter cannot be heated to kill the bacteria without making it unpleasant to eat. "Once the salmonella gets into the peanut butter, you are not going to kill it," Doyle said.

For a full list of recalled peanut products, visit the FDA website here.

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