Additional peanut butter products recalled in Salmonella outbreak

Additional peanut butter products have been recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination, according to an updated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report.

The latest recall includes products that contain various peanut butter toppings made at a ConAgra plant in Humboldt, Tennessee. FDA officials learned that the Tennessee plant received bulk shipments of Peter Pan peanut butter from the Salmonella-contaminated ConAgra plant in Sylvester, Georgia.

An FDA investigation of the ConAgra plant in Georgia found Salmonella present in the plant that processed Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. A Salmonella outbreak began with several cases in August and grew gradually. It was recently tied to Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with the product code 2111 that was manufactured at the ConAgra plant in Georgia.

The food poisoning outbreak has sickened around 300 people in about 37 states. Nearly 50 people have been hospitalized.

More recalled products

Additional recalled products include the Sonic Brand Ready-to-Use Peanut Butter topping in 6-pound 10.5-ounce cans. This topping was used in the Sonic Brand Peanut Butter Shake, their Peanut Butter Fudge Shake, the Sonic Brand Peanut Butter Sundae and their Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae. According to the FDA report, Sonic outlets used the peanut butter topping until February 16 when the recall was ordered.

Carvel Peanut Butter Topping in 6-pound 10.5-ounce cans was also recalled. Carvel also used the product until the February 16 recall. The Carvel Peanut Butter topping was used in the following Carvel ice cream products: Chocolate Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Treasure, Peanut Butter and Jelly and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae Dasher. Some customized products also contained the Carvel Peanut Butter Topping, including peanut butter flavored ice cream in ice cream cakes.

J. Hungerford Smith Peanut Butter Dessert Topping in 6-pound 10-ounce cans was also recalled. Retail outlets and restaurants across the country use this product. It is not available for direct purchase by the public.

Added to original

peanut butter recall

These peanut butter products have been added to the recent recall of Peter Pan peanut butter and Great Value peanut butter beginning with the product code 2111. That recall has been extended to products made since December 2005. The Peter Pan peanut butter was distributed nationwide and to over 60 countries. Great Value peanut butter was distributed nationally through Wal-Mart.

Discard products

Consumers are advised not to eat any Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter beginning with the product code 2111. They should discard these products as well as the additional recalled peanut butter products if they still have them in their homes.

To be safe, all potentially contaminated peanut butter should be thrown away, even if it has been partially eaten with no symptoms developing.

If consumers are unsure whether the product contains the recalled peanut butter topping, they should contact the store where it was purchased.

Salmonella symptoms

Symptoms of food-borne illness caused by Salmonella bacteria include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In individuals in poor health or with weakened immune systems, Salmonella can be life-threatening or even fatal, according to the FDA report. Illness from Salmonella generally lasts 4-7 days. Most people recover from Salmonella without treatment.

Those who have eaten peanut-butter products from these companies and who have had these symptoms should contact their physician immediately and report the illness to the local health authorities.