Increased Recalls of Peanut Butter Cited in Recent Salmonella Outbreak
Key Takeaways:
- A nationwide recall has been issued by Peanut Corp. of America for its 21 lots of peanut butter due to a spike in salmonella infections.
- The tainted peanut butter, marketed under the Parnell’s Pride and King Nut labels, was produced in the company’s Blakely, Ga plant.
- The recall followed discoveries of matching salmonella strains in an open King Nut creamy peanut butter container in Minnesota and in several other states.
- Three possible deaths in Minnesota and Virginia have been associated with the outbreak.
- The salmonella strain has been identified as Salmonella Typhimurium, the most frequent of the more than 2,500 types of salmonella bacteria in the United States.
Following a spike in salmonella infections, a nationwide peanut butter recall has been issued. The peanut butter, produced in a Georgia factory, has already resulted in 425 people in 43 states reporting illnesses.
Details of the Recall
Peanut Corp. of America, with its headquarters in Lynchburg, Va, has put forth the recall of its 21 lots of peanut butter due to suspected salmonella contamination. The tainted peanut butter batches were made after July 1, 2008 at the company’s Blakely, Ga plant. The peanut butter has been marketed under the Parnell’s Pride and King Nut labels, according to reports.
The company, which also possesses plants in Virginia and Texas, manufactures its product for large-scale distribution to institutions, various food service sectors, and private labels.
Connecting to the Outbreak
The recall move followed discoveries that salmonella bacteria present in an open King Nut creamy peanut butter container found in Minnesota matched the salmonella strain detected in several states.
Simultaneously, health officials noted Tuesday that one death in Minnesota and two in Virginia were possibly associated with the outbreak.
Detailing on the incident, Lola Russell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated, “This is a complex, widespread outbreak that appears to be ongoing.”
The Company’s Response
“We deeply regret that this has happened,” Stewart Parnell, the owner and president of the Peanut Corp, was quoted to say in a company statement. Parnell added that in the interest of caution, the company was voluntarily pulling the product and reaching out to their clientele.
Additional Recalls
On a related note, King Nut, based in Ohio, announced its recall of King Nut and Parnell’s Pride peanut butter, encoded with the lot number “8”.
Potential Cross-contamination
Peanut Corp. confirmed the detection of salmonella on its platforms. However, it also indicated the possibility of cross-contamination from another source. The company is working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other agencies to identify whether the current outbreak is connected to products made in the Peanut Corp. facility.
Strain Identified
The salmonella strain has been identified as Salmonella Typhimurium, the most frequent of the more than 2,500 types of salmonella bacteria in the United States. Typically, the strain is found in raw eggs and meats, as per CDC officials.
Recalls and Prior Incidents
The current recall incident and its potential connection to a multi-state outbreak is reminiscent of a similar situation two years ago when peanut butter brand Peter Pan was recalled following its association with salmonella cases across multiple states.
Lear more about Salmonella
To gather more information about salmonella, you can visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
