Investigation into Salmonella Contamination Continues; GDA Makes Sure Recalled Products are Removed from Sale

“We are continuing to work with our state and federal counterparts to determine the cause of the contamination of peanut butter from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) processing facility in Blakely,” said Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has run 173 individual tests on peanut butter from the plant and ingredients sent to the plant as well as peanut butter and peanut products from other sources. “These tests have been negative for Salmonella with the exception of the sample we announced last week and for one more sample collected from the plant for which we are awaiting results,” said Commissioner Irvin.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is conducting a recall verification to make sure that all recalled products are removed from store shelves and food warehouses. “We have been informing grocery stores, convenience stores, food warehouses and food processors of all the products that have been recalled and our inspectors are checking to make sure all the recalled products have been removed from sale and from food distribution channels,” said Commissioner Irvin.

Visit the Food and Drug Administration web site: http://www.fda.gov/oc/firmrecalls for more information on the recall and a complete list of the recalled products.

“Jars of peanut butter sold in retail stores are not implicated in this recall. The recalled peanut butter and peanut paste were sent to food processors and institutions,” said Irvin.

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Kroger Recalls Select Ice Cream Products Due to Possible Health Risk

GFP Note: At this time, no ice cream sold in Georgia under the label of Private Selection at Kroger is included in the recall.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) said today it is recalling Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in select stores because the peanut butter in the ice cream was supplied by Peanut Corporation of America and may be contaminated with Salmonella. Stores under the following names are included in this recall: City Market, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC and Smith's.

Stores the company operates under the following names did not receive any of the ice cream being recalled: Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., Jay C, Scott's, Owen's, Baker's, Gerbes, Hilander and Pay Less.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the ice cream.

The FDA has indicated that Peanut Corporation of America is the focus of its investigation into Salmonella-related illnesses that may be linked to contaminated peanut butter.

Item Description:

Kroger is recalling the following ice cream:

-- Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in 48-ounce
containers with a "Sell by" date of 9-13-2009 under the following UPC
Code Number: 0001111054437.
-- Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in 56-ounce
containers with a "Sell by" date of 8-11-2009 under the following UPC
Code Number: 0001111052816.



The ice cream was sold in City Market, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC and Smith's stores in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Customers who have recently purchased this ice cream should not eat it and return the product to a store for a full refund or replacement.

No other Kroger products are involved in the recall. Kroger continues to follow FDA guidelines and, for the safety of customers, has withdrawn other products from sale that contain peanut butter ingredients implicated in this outbreak, as directed by the FDA and suppliers involved.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and/or abdominal pain. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site at www.cdc.gov.

According to the FDA, peanut butter sold in jars, including Kroger brand peanut butter sold in the retailer's family of stores, is not involved in the ongoing investigation.

Consumers who have questions about the ice cream recall may contact Kroger toll-free at (800) 632-6900. For more information, please visit www.kroger.com/recalls.

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Peanut Corporation of America Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Peanut Butter

Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), a peanut processing company and maker of peanut butter for bulk distribution to institutions, food service industries, and private label food companies, today announced a voluntary recall of peanut butter produced in its Blakely, Georgia processing facility because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

All product affected was produced on or after July 1, 2008, specific to the lot numbers and descriptions listed below.

The peanut butter being recalled is sold by PCA in bulk packaging to distributors for institutional and food service industry use. It is also sold under the brand name Parnell’s Pride to those same industries. Additionally, it is sold by the King Nut Company under the label King Nut. PCA customers who received the recalled product are being notified by telephone and in writing.

None of the peanut butter being recalled is sold directly to consumers through retail stores.

“We deeply regret that this has happened,” said Stewart Parnell, owner and president of PCA. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily withdrawing this product and contacting our customers. We are taking these actions with the safety of our consumers as our first priority.”

PCA initiated this recall after an open container of King Nut brand peanut butter in a long-term care facility in Minnesota was found to contain a strain of salmonella. King Nut brand peanut butter is produced by PCA.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota laboratory analyses on the contamination in the already-opened container of peanut butter have the same genetic fingerprint as the cases in the national outbreak that has sickened almost 400 people in 42 states.

The voluntary recall of 21 lots of its peanut butter, in containers ranging from five to 50 pounds, is being taken immediately. PCA is notifying its institutional customers and has set up a toll-free hotline number 1-877-564-7080 to answer questions.

PCA is continuing to work closely and cooperating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state officials as part of this ongoing investigation.

According to a CDC update issued on their website today (January 13, 2009), preliminary analysis of an epidemiologic study conducted by CDC and public health officials has suggested peanut butter as a likely source. The CDC and other public health officials are continuing to conduct surveillance for cases of infection with the outbreak strains, and to gather and analyze data or exposures that may be associated with illness. To date, no association has been found with common brand names of peanut butter sold in grocery stores.

Customers are asked to take all peanut butter manufactured with the lot numbers listed below out of distribution immediately. Customers can call the following toll-free 24-hour number 1-877-564-7080 for further instructions on what to do with the product or visit the company website at www.peanutcorp.com for additional information.

Eating food contaminated with Salmonella can result in abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and fever. Most people infected with Salmonella develop the symptoms 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses. For more information on the salmonella bacteria, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Website at http://www.cdc.gov.

Lot Numbers Affected:

8193, 8194, 8197, 8233, 8234, 8235, 8241, 8255, 8256, 8275, 8276, 8282, 8283, 8284, 8296, 8316, 8330, 8331, 8336, 8345, 8354

Stock Numbers Descriptions Pack Size Affected

551000 Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter 6 ct / 5 lb

551006 Crunchy Stabilized Peanut Butter 6 ct / 5 lb

551020 Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter 35 lb

551022 Natural Course Peanut Paste 35 lb

551025 Old Fashioned Creamy Peanut Butter with 1% Salt 35 lb

551035 Crunchy Natural Peanut Butter 35 lb

551040 Creamy Natural Peanut Butter 35 lb

551050 Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter 50 lb

551050-D Dark Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter 50 lb

551051 Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter with Monodiglyceride 50 lb

551053 Crunchy Stabilized Peanut Butter 50 lb

551072 Peanut Butter Variegate 45 lb

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