Tallahassee Personal Injury Lawyer - Peanut Corporation of America

What to Do If You've Eaten Contaminated Peanut Butter Product

Brian W. Smith — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:44:13 GMT

The number of products that contain peanuts or peanut paste manufactured by the Peanut Corporation of America continues to grow. The list has topped 1,000 affected products and includes many popular cookies, candies and snack bars.

If you have eaten any of these products and have suffered symptoms consistent with salmonella exposure, it is suggested that you go to the Emergency Room or walk in clinic today and tell them what you have eaten and what your symptoms have been. Ask them to test you for salmonella exposure (usually a stool test). If some time has passed between your consumption of the crackers and the salmonella test, there's a chance that it will come back normal, but a test is the best way to determine if you have been exposed to salmonella.

Also, it is important to keep the product that you have eaten (or at least the package). They may need to be tested at a lab. Put them in a sealed container or plastic baggie and keep them in a cool dry place.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian W. Smith

Peanut Company Knowingly Shipped Tainted Peanut Butter

Brian W. Smith — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:49:43 GMT

Officials at the food plant in Blakely, Ga., responsible for the nationwide salmonella outbreak, knowingly shipped contaminated peanut butter and did not do anything to correct the mold growing on their walls and ceilings. According to the FDA, people became sick or died after consuming food products containing peanut butter produced at the Peanut Corporation of America.

The outbreak, which took place between Sept. 1 and Jan. 9, infected more than 500 people in 43 states, and one person in Canada, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The CDC, along with the Food and Drug Administration, is conducting an investigation. The recent salmonella outbreak may have contributed to eight deaths, according to the CDC.

"PCA distributed potentially contaminated product to more than 70 consignee firms, for use as an ingredient in hundreds of different products, such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream," the FDA said on its Web site.

A report by the FDA released Wednesday revealed 12 instances between June 2007 and September 2008 where the plant’s testing discovered its products were contaminated by salmonella. However, the company still shipped the product.

Upon inspection, mold was found inside the plant, including on the building’s ceilings and walls of the food cooler. It appeared roaches had made the plant their home as well.

The American Peanut Council articulated “shock and dismay” upon learning of the FDA’s report that the Peanut Corp. of America had knowingly shipped contaminated food products.

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever and cramping. The illness can last four to seven days. About 1.4 million Americans develop salmonella each year and 400 die from it, according to the CDC.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian W. Smith

Peanut Corporation of America Expands Nationwide Recall of Peanut Products

Brian W. Smith — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:31:48 GMT

The expanded recall includes all peanuts (dry and oil roasted), granulated peanuts, peanut meal, peanut butter and peanut paste. All of the recalled peanuts and peanut products were made only at the company's Blakely, Georgia facility. The Blakely, Georgia facility has stopped producing all peanut products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian W. Smith

Chocolate Company Recalls Various Candies Containing Peanut Butter

Brian W. Smith — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:43:13 GMT

The South Bend Chocolate Company today announced a voluntary recall of certain candy products because they contain peanut butter from Peanut Corporation of America, which may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Nearly 400 illnesses and five deaths have now been linked to a salmonella outbreak that is believed to have been caused by peanut butter and peanut paste. The brand of peanut butter that has tested positive for salmonella and has been connected to the nationwide outbreak, has been voluntarily recalled by its distributor, King Nut Companies of Solon, Ohio. The five pound tubs of creamy peanut butter are not manufactured by King Nut but are made for the company by the Peanut Corporation of America in Lynchburg, Va.

Peanut butter paste manufactured by Peanut Corporation, is also used in peanut butter crackers and other peanut butter snacks sold under the Keebler, Austin and Little Debbie names.

Anyone who suffers symptoms after eating these products should report this to their local health department and should seek immediate medical treatment. It is critical to tell your doctor that you ate one of those products and ask to be tested for salmonella exposure.

If you, or someone you know, has suffered illness after eating peanut butter products, contact our offices at (866) 735-1102 Ext 515 or visit our web site: http://www.injuryboard.com/firms/Florida/Tallahassee/Smith--Vanture-LLP/

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian W. Smith

Peanut Butter is Possible Source of Salmonella Outbreak

Brian W. Smith — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:39:15 GMT

Officials from the state Department of Health said late Friday that the salmonella bacteria found in 30 Minnesotans believe to have been sickened by eating King Nut brand creamy peanut butter has the same genetic fingerprint as the salmonella bacteria found in 400 sick people in 42 states.

Further testing on cases outside Minnesota will be needed to confirm that the peanut butter is the source of those illnesses as well, "but we think it's likely," said department spokesman Doug Schultz.

The peanut butter, sold in 5-pound containers to food service companies that supply schools, hospitals and other institutions, does not usually end up on supermarket shelves.

Kirk Smith, supervisor of food-borne diseases at the state Department of Health, said the clue in this outbreak was that many of the Minnesotans who became ill had eaten in institutional settings. That included nursing homes, schools and colleges, he said.

"What they had in common was this brand of peanut butter," he said. "That was enough."

The brand of peanut butter that tested positive for salmonella in Minnesota and is possibly connected to a nationwide outbreak has been voluntarily recalled by its distributor, King Nut Companies of Solon, Ohio. The five pound tubs of creamy peanut butter are not manufactured by King Nut but are made for the company by the Peanut Corporation of America in Lynchburg, Va., King Nut said in its statement. Peanut Corporation has issued its own press release pertaining to this situation

The report of peanut butter contamination comes almost two years after ConAgra recalled its Peter Pan brand peanut butter, which was eventually linked to at least 625 salmonella cases in 47 states.

If you, or someone you know, has suffered illness after eating peanut butter, contact our offices at (866) 735-1102 Ext 515 or visit our web site: http://www.injuryboard.com/firms/Florida/Tallahassee/Smith--Vanture-LLP/

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian W. Smith