FDA News Updates: Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak from Tainted Peanut Butter

In January 2009, the FDA began to issue a number of alerts regarding peanut-butter and peanut-butter containing products being recalled because of salmonella. The FDA has released the following update alerts.

January 12, 2009 Update:
FDA is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and public health officials in many states to investigate an ongoing, multi-state outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium. CDC and public health officials in multiple states comparing foods eaten by ill and well persons have suggested peanut butter as a likely source. However, the epidemiological studies have not implicated any specific brand.

FDA continues its investigation of a peanut butter manufacturer, based upon data from the epidemiological investigation and laboratory testing conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health and Department of Agriculture. Product testing indicated the presence of Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria of the same strains found in the ongoing outbreak in an (open) 5-pound container of peanut butter that was offered in an institutional setting.

FDA’s ongoing investigation includes an inspection at the distributor and the implicated manufacturer for the suspect sample collected by the state. The inspection at the manufacturer was coordinated with state and CDC officials and is two-pronged: to gather samples and to collect epidemiological information, including records on distribution of the product. Samples are being analyzed in FDA laboratories.

The 5-pound container, which tested positive, appears to be manufactured for sale in large containers to institutions such as nursing homes, cafeterias, etc. State officials in Minnesota are coordinating their investigation with CDC and FDA.

This distributor has taken voluntary action to withdraw its peanut butter products from the marketplace.

January 16, 2009 Update:
At this time, the Food and Drug Administration based, in part, on sample results by the State of Minnesota, has traced one likely source of Salmonella Typhimirium contamination to a plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). The plant in Georgia manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste, a concentrated product consisting of ground, roasted peanuts. In many instances, the peanut butter and peanut paste manufactured by PCA are further distributed to manufacturers to be used as ingredients in many products, including cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream. Additionally, FDA has determined that some of the peanut butter is distributed in bulk for further manufacturing into products containing peanut butter and to large institutions, such as nursing homes and hospitals.

The FDA has initiated inspections at some of the direct distributors of PCA, including King Nut, and continues to follow the distribution points for PCA peanut butter and peanut paste products. FDA’s investigators are collecting distribution and other records to identify and follow up with additional firms who are in the distribution chain for these products.

Given the potentially-wide distribution of this peanut butter and peanut paste as ingredients in numerous products, the FDA is asking companies to check the records of their supply chain and determine if their peanut butter and peanut paste ingredients came from PCA, and if so, to take appropriate precautionary measures.

This is a very active and dynamic investigation. FDA continues to receive sample results and other information. Therefore, at this time, FDA is not providing consumers with specific information about what brands or types of products they should avoid. As the investigation continues and leads to specific products, the FDA will continue to provide updates.

The FDA has notified PCA that product samples originating from its Blakely, Ga., processing plant have been tested and found positive for Salmonella by laboratories in the states of Minnesota, Georgia and Connecticut. The state of Minnesota reported to FDA that its samples of King Nut peanut butter are a genetic match to the strain of Salmonella that has caused illnesses in the state and around the country. King Nut is a distributor of PCA product.

As a result of these updated test results, on January 16, PCA expanded its voluntary recall to include all peanut butter produced on or after August 8, 2008, and all peanut paste produced on or after September 26, 2008, in its Blakely, Ga., plant because of potential Salmonella contamination. The product being recalled is sold by PCA in bulk packaging in containers ranging in size from five to 1700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. These products are not sold directly to consumers. PCA has stopped all production at its Blakely, Ga., plant as the FDA continues its investigation into the source of the Salmonella contamination.

Based on this information, and on the current state of the investigation, the FDA recommends that consumers avoid eating products that have been recalled and discard them.

Because identification of products subject to recall is continuing, the FDA urges consumers to postpone eating commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter-containing products and institutionally-served peanut butter until further information becomes available about which products may be affected. Efforts to specifically identify those products are ongoing.

At this time, there is no indication that any national name brand jars of peanut butter sold in retail stores are linked to the PCA recall. As the investigation continues over the weekend, and into next week, the FDA will be able to update the advice based on new sampling and distribution information.

The FDA is working closely with members of the food industry to narrow this advice and to publish a detailed list of implicated products as soon as possible. The FDA is encouraging manufacturers to help inform consumers about whether their products could have contained commercially prepared peanut butter or peanut paste from PCA. Also, if manufacturers know their products do not contain ingredients from PCA, they may wish to inform consumers of that fact. Retailers should stop selling products which have been recalled. The FDA will closely monitor these events by continuing to work with the firms on the details of their actions, conduct follow-up audits and inspections, monitor the progress of the firms’ actions, and notify our foreign regulatory counterparts of products that may have been distributed internationally.

The FDA has notified PCA that product samples originating from its Blakely, Ga., processing plant have been tested and found positive for Salmonella by laboratories in the states of Minnesota and Georgia. The state of Minnesota has reported to FDA that its samples of King Nut peanut butter are a genetic match to the strain of Salmonella that has caused illnesses in that state and around the country. King Nut is a distributor of PCA product.

On January 16, PCA expanded its voluntary recall to include all peanut butter produced on or after August 8, 2008, and all peanut paste produced on or after September 26, 2008, in its Blakely, Ga., plant because of potential Salmonella contamination. The product being recalled is sold by PCA in bulk packaging in containers ranging in size from five to 1700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. These products are not sold directly to consumers. PCA has stopped all production at its Blakely, Ga. plant as the FDA continues its investigation into the source of the Salmonella contamination.

Based on this information, and on the current state of the investigation, the FDA recommends that consumers avoid eating products that have been recalled and discard them.

Because identification of products subject to recall is continuing, the FDA urges consumers to postpone eating commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter-containing products and institutionally-served peanut butter until further information becomes available about which products may be affected. Efforts to specifically identify those products are ongoing.

At this time, there is no indication that any national name brand jars of peanut butter sold in retail stores are linked to the PCA recall. As the investigation continues over the weekend, and into next week, the FDA will be able to update the advice based on new sampling and distribution information.

The FDA is working closely with members of the food industry to narrow this advice and to publish a detailed list of implicated products as soon as possible. The FDA is encouraging manufacturers to help inform consumers about whether their products could have contained commercially prepared peanut butter or peanut paste from PCA. Also, if manufacturers know their products do not contain ingredients from PCA, they may wish to inform consumers of that fact. Retailers should stop selling products which have been recalled.

For information on products containing peanut butter from companies not reporting recalls, consumers may wish to consult the company’s website or call the toll-free number listed on most packaging. Information consumers may receive from the companies has not been verified by the FDA.

The FDA will closely monitor these events by continuing to work with the firms on the details of their actions, conduct follow-up audits and inspections, monitor the progress of the firms’ actions, and notify our foreign regulatory counterparts of products that may have been distributed internationally.

see also:

January 19, 2009 Update Peanut butter recall update from FDA: are you at risk for salmonella?
FDA issues update regarding peanut butter recall and salmonella risk

Peanut Corporation of America Recall of peanut butter recall from Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America announces peanut butter recall

Cambrooke Cream Cheese Recall of all batches Cambrooke Foods Imitation Cream Cheese products
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