Peanut butter recall blames Salmonella contamination

Source| The Exponent Online
By Mike Westervelt

Statewide outbreaks of Salmonella prompted Purdue officials to remove a brand of peanut butter from dining facilities.

The Centers for Disease Control have reported 288 cases of the illness nationally. Thirteen cases have been confirmed in Indiana. Health officials said jars of Peter Pan peanut butter are linked to the outbreak.

Kathy Manwaring, assistant director of dining services, said the University used the brand in On the Go! locations.

“We got the message (Monday) that we are not to use any Peter Pan peanut butter,” said Manwaring.

She said that when the recall was announced last weekend, it was not clear that it applied to single serve portions, which are the only instances where Peter Pan is used at dining services. Manwaring said Purdue primarily uses Jif peanut butter in the main dining areas.

The Indiana State Department of Health is urging consumers to be aware of the recall. Lynae Granzow, epidemiologist for the department, said the recall applies to every jar of Peter Pan peanut butter and specific jars of Great Value, a Wal-Mart brand. She said Great Value jars with the lid product code 2111 should not be consumed.

She said students who recently consumed a suspected brand should be alert to health effects. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, cramps, nausea and gas. They usually last about 48 to 72 hours.

“At this point, if you haven’t become ill already, there isn’t much concern,” said Granzow. “But you should stop eating the peanut butter.”

She said the state department was notified of a potential outbreak Dec. 20. She said it was quickly identified as Salmonella tennessee.

“We were able to identify these cases. Three were identified … and were matched to the national outbreak,” said Granzow. “The (Food and Drug Administration) is investigating the plant in which the infection was found.”

She said this is the first case where Salmonella is suspected to be contained within peanut butter.

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