Peanut butter probe expands; takes on new urgency

Yahoo ^ | January 16, 2008 | KATE BRUMBACK and RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

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WASHINGTON – The latest national food safety investigation took on new urgency Friday as federal officials confirmed salmonella contamination at a Georgia facility that ships peanut products to 85 food companies.

On Capitol Hill, the House Energy and Commerce Committee requested records as it opened its own inquiry.

The outbreak has sickened hundreds of people in 43 states and killed at least six. Earlier this week, it prompted Kellogg to pull some of its venerable Keebler crackers from store shelves, as a precaution.

Although the investigation has gone into high gear, Food and Drug Administration officials say much of their information remains sketchy. And new cases are still being reported.

"This is a very active investigation, but we don't yet have the data to provide consumers with specifics about what brands or products they should avoid," said Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's food safety center. Although salmonella bacteria has been found at the Georgia plant, for example, more tests are needed to see if it matches the strain that has gotten people sick.

But clearly, what began as an investigation of bulk peanut butter shipped to nursing homes and institutional cafeterias is now much broader.

It includes not just peanut butter, but baked goods and other products that contain peanuts and are sold directly to consumers. Health officials say as many as one-third of the people who got sick did not recall eating peanut butter.

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Another excerpt:

Officials said they are focusing on peanut paste, as well as peanut butter, produced at a Blakely, Ga., facility owned by Peanut Corp. of America. The concern about peanut paste is significant because it can be used in dozens of products, from baked goods to cooking sauces."

[EDINVA]

Maybe all those yuppies who discovered a peanut allergy will have something to crow about, after all.

Around our house, we live on pb.

[EggsAckley]

Paging Jimmuh Carter.........white courtesy phone please, paging Jimmuh Carter...............

[jiggyboy]

Health officials say as many as one-third of the people who got sick did not recall eating peanut butter.

CNN quoted somebody from the company as saying that they don't sell their peanut butter in many of the states where people are suffering the salmonella poisoning. Or to anybody who produces products that are sold in those states.

[rmlew]

I love peanut butter and live in NYC. What brands are affected?
I've had salmonella before. It was very unpleasant. Second best excuse to get out of an exam. (Actually, I didn't miss the exam, just the chair. I went to the final sick and probably delirious with a temperature of 103. I picked up my exam, went to sit down and passed out on the floor. Bad indian food and worse Christmas break.)

[stentorian conservative]

Are we celebrating the one year anniversary?

[This Just In]

Viva La Government Industrialized food!

[N3WBI3]

“Around our house, we live on pb.”

Good for you, but Im no yuppie and while I would love a cheap packed food like PB taking my daughter to the ER just does not seem worth it..

Keep in mind that the blessings of health you may have are not enjoyed by all..

[Rudder]

we don't yet have the data to provide consumers with specifics about what brands or products they should avoid

[Red_Devil 232]

Correct me if I have my facts screwed up. We have contamination of a plant in Iowa(?) King Nut. Now we have a plant in Ga. They have the same strain of salmonella?

Then look for a PeaNutter causing this.

[smoothsailing]

[Arizona Carolyn]

Last year they said it was tomatoes and it turned out to be peppers from Mexico. Our FDA has become a joke.

[EDINVA]

Maybe you missed this one:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2152312/posts

[shibumi]

Apparently a very slow moving epidemic.

[radiohead]

Apparently a very slow moving epidemic.

Well, it is peanut butter after all... : P

[grey_whiskers]

Let me be the first to say:

"[Dhimmi] Carter's Fault!"

[o_zarkman44]

Jimbo Carter, peanut farmer and merchant of death.

[o_zarkman44]

do they grow peanuts in China, considering how contaminated their imports are?

[lafroste]

Around our house, we live on pb.

Our house is safe. Our little girl is deathly allergic to peanuts so every peanut product was scrubbed from our shelves years ago.