heartlvrs

Outbreak has slowly grown to nearly 300 cases in 39 states since August
• CDC: Outbreak thought to be first in U.S. history linked to peanut butter
• About 20 percent of the 288 infected people have been hospitalized
• FDA: Don't eat Peter Pan or Great Value with product code starting "2111"


ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- A salmonella outbreak that has slowly grown to nearly 300 cases in 39 states since August has been linked to tainted peanut butter, federal health officials said Wednesday.

It is believed to be the first salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter in U.S. history, said officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 20 percent of the 288 infected people have been hospitalized, but none has died, said Dr. Mike Lynch, a CDC epidemiologist.

About 85 percent of the infected people said they ate peanut butter, CDC officials said.

How salmonella got into peanut butter is still under investigation, Lynch said.

The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter because of the risk of contamination.

The affected jars have a product code on the lid that begins with the number "2111." The affected jars are made by ConAgra in a single facility in Sylvester, Georgia, the FDA said.

Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected, the agency said.

ConAgra said it is recalling all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111.

"Although none of our extensive product tests have indicated the presence of salmonella, we are taking this precautionary measure because consumer health and safety is out top priority," spokesman Chris Kircher said.

"We are working closely with the FDA to better understand its concerns, and we will take whatever additional measures are needed to ensure the safety, quality and wholesomeness of our products."

The largest number of salmonella cases were reported in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri.

Salmonella infection is known each year to sicken about 40,000 people in the United States, according to the CDC. Salmonellosis, as the infection is known, kills about 600 people annually.

Symptoms of salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting.

The new outbreak began in August, but just two or fewer cases have been reported each day, CDC officials said.

It was only in the past few days that investigators were able to hone in on a particular food, Lynch said.

ConAgra is destroying all affected products the company still has, the FDA said.

The company will cease production until the exact cause of contamination can be identified and eliminated. Meanwhile, ConAgra advised consumers to destroy any Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111.

The FDA sent investigators to ConAgra's processing plant in Sylvester where the products were made to review records, collect product samples and conduct tests for salmonella.


yikes i have 4 jars of this stuff starting with the product code 2111!!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/14....ap/index.html

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R.I.P. JACKIE Miss you already

R.I.P. Dawn Golby Miss you

heartlvrs

WE have four jars of this!! !All codes of 2111...and my dh actually has a case of salmonella!!

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R.I.P. JACKIE Miss you already

R.I.P. Dawn Golby Miss you

galeane29

I just looked, I have 1 unused jar in my pantry, its going back to walmart tomorrow.

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heartlvrs

News Release
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An important message for our peanut butter customers. NEW Updated refund options available
We are taking the precautionary measure of recalling all varieties of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter beginning with product code 2111, which is printed on the lid of both brands. We are working with the FDA to investigate a report from the CDC that these peanut butter products may be linked to the foodborne illness salmonella.

While this affects Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111, there are other manufacturers of Great Value peanut butter that are not affected by this recall.

If you have concerns about your health, please contact your doctor. Although none of our extensive product tests have indicated that salmonella is present, we are taking this precautionary measure because consumer health and safety is our top priority.

For a full product refund, you may choose to do one of two things:

You can return your opened or unopened jar of Peter Pan Peanut Butter or Great Value Peanut Butter to the store where you purchased it for a full refund. This is a new option available to consumers as of Feb. 16.
Or you can send your Peter Pan Peanut Butter or Great Value Peanut Butter lid with the product code beginning with 2111 to ConAgra Foods along with your name and mailing address for a full refund. That mailing address is Peter Pan Refund Request, PO Box 400006, El Paso, TX 88540-0006.
If you need any additional information about the recall of Peter Pan peanut butter and Great Value peanut butter starting with product code 2111, you can contact us in a variety of ways, including:

Send your questions or concerns to us via our online form.
Call our 24-hour, toll-free Consumer Affairs number: 866-344-6970.
If you've called this number and have not been able to get through, please bear with us, wait 30-60 minutes and try again. We know that many consumers are experiencing delays in reaching us. We apologize for this and are adding additional lines and personnel to deal with the influx of calls as quickly as we can.
For a refund, please follow the instructions above. It's not necessary for you to call unless you have questions or concerns.

We want to answer your questions and address your concerns. We deeply appreciate your patience and understanding.

http://investor.conagrafoods.com/pho...147&highlight=

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R.I.P. JACKIE Miss you already

R.I.P. Dawn Golby Miss you

Jolie Rouge

Salmonellosis - Outbreak Update

As of February 15th at 3PM EST, 290 persons with Salmonella Tennessee, the Salmonella type associated with this outbreak, have been reported to CDC from 39 states:

Alaska (1), Alabama (9), Arkansas (3), Arizona (5), California (1), Colorado (10), Connecticut (2), Georgia (14), Iowa (6), Illinois (5), Indiana (13), Kansas (6), Kentucky (9), Massachusetts (5), Maryland (2), Maine (1), Michigan (5), Minnesota (5), Missouri (13), Mississippi (3), Montana (2), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (5), North Carolina (15), New Mexico (1), New York (32), Ohio (7), Oklahoma (10), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (23), South Carolina (6), South Dakota (5), Tennessee (18), Texas (13), Virginia (17), Vermont (4), Washington (4), Wisconsin (5), and West Virginia (1).

Among 185 patients for whom clinical information is available, 44 (24%) were hospitalized. There have been no reports of deaths attributed to this infection. Onset dates, which are known for 171 patients, ranged from August 1, 2006 to January 30, 2007.

Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to visit their health care provider and call their local health departments. Persons who have become ill and have Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter with product code beginning with "2111" should set aside the jar for possible collection by local health officials for further testing. Persons who have not become ill and have peanut butter with product code "2111" should discard the jar.

Public health officials in multiple states, with the assistance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S Food and Drug Administration are investigating a large multistate outbreak of Salmonella Tennessee infections. Interviews comparing foods eaten by ill and well persons show that consumption of Peter Pan peanut butter was statistically associated with illness and therefore the most likely source of the outbreak. Although the study did not specifically implicate Great Value brand peanut butter, it is manufactured in the same plant as Peter Pan peanut butter and therefore is believed to be at similar risk of contamination.

The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number "2111." Both the Peter Pan and Great Value brands are manufactured in a single facility in Georgia. These products may have national distribution. Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected.

CDC's OutbreakNet (the network of public health officials that investigate foodborne illnesses nationwide) has been monitoring this outbreak which has been prolonged and of low intensity beginning with a few cases in August and gradually growing. Public health officials have been working to identify the source of infection for several months. Two closely related DNA fingerprint patterns have been associated with this outbreak. DNA fingerprinting is routinely done at public health laboratories in all states as part of the nationwide network of public health laboratories that sub-type bacteria.

Health officials and the peanut butter manufacturer are working collaboratively to learn more about production of peanut butter to determine how it may have become contaminated.

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsem....asp?a=175&z=1

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