The peanut butter recalls continue to be in the news, and it may be a long time before we can feel confident about buying anything with peanut butter in it again.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the peanut butter recalls, and what steps you need to take if you get sick.
What is salmonella?
According to the USDA, salmonella bacteria is a microscopic, rod-shaped bacteria that passes from the feces of people or animals to other people or animals that cause a gastrointestinal illness with symptoms like cramps, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
The salmonella that is making people sick through peanut butter products in the United States is a strain called salmonella typhimurium.
Salmonella has no relationship to the fish called salmon.
Where can I get a list of the items that may have salmonella in them?
The FDA is maintaining a list of peanut butter ingredient goods that have been recalled.
The list is frequently updated and includes hundreds of products, some of which you may not realize even contain anything related to peanuts.
What foods are included in the recall?
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They are foods that have been made from a peanut butter granule additive -- an ingredient manufactured by a plant in Georgia that is owned by the Peanut Corporation of America. They include cookies, candies, cakes, ice creams, toppings, brownies, snack foods, some pet foods, and dozens of variations on those types of foods.
Many of the items were manufactured in bulk for food service, restaurants, cafeterias and other places that serve large groups of people.
These ingredients were manufactured in unsanitary conditions and that's how the salmonella got a foothold. (see information below about responsibility) The recall affects products made in the past two years (January 1, 2007)
Is there a list of the pet foods that have been recalled, too?
Yes. The FDA is maintaining and updating a list of recalled peanut butter-based pet foods, too.
How can I find out if anyone in my area has gotten sick?
The CDC maintains a salmonella outbreak map and more information about locations where the salmonella has been found in peanut butter products in the United States.
What peanut butter products are safe? What products have not been recalled?
Many peanut butter items have already been declared safe to eat. The American Peanut Council is maintains and updates a list of items that have not been manufactured with any of the salmonella-laced ingredients.
Most spreadable peanut butter products (e.g. for PB&J sandwiches) in small, individual jars are on this list, plus snack foods that are manufactured by companies that do not purchase their peanut granules from the Peanut Corporation of America. They include Peter Pan, Jif, Smuckers, Kraft, Planters, Mars and Hershey products, among many others.
What should I do if someone, or my pet, gets sick?
If you or a loved one is experiencing diarrhea, vomiting or other gastrointestinal symptoms, call your physician immediately, or get to an emergency room for treatment. Expect the illness to last up to seven days. (Although there have been deaths, they are very rare.)
If your pet has gotten sick, then contact your veterinarian right away.
What should I do if I have purchased tainted peanut butter products?
First -- do not eat them or give them to anyone else to eat.
Then, if you have the item or the packaging from the food you believe caused illness, you may want to report the problem to either the manufacturer or the store where you purchased it. You can look on the store's or manufacturer's website to learn how to make the report.
Some, but not all, stores are offering refunds, especially for items that are the store's brand.
You can also phone either the FDA's information line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or CDC's consumer information hotline that is staffed 24/7 at 1-800-CDC-INFO.
Who is responsible for this salmonella poisoning in peanut butter?
Two responsible parties failed to protect us from this outbreak:
The Peanut Corporation of America owns the plant in Georgia where the salmonella was found. It has been cited on numerous occasions for failure to keep its plant and process clean, but has not taken the steps needed to clean its facility to keep its food safe for consumption.
The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for the inspections of most manufactured food plants in the United States and other countries that produce food for the American food supply. Despite at least a dozen violations at the guilty plant over the past several years (as seen in this report from the FDA) no steps were taken by the FDA to close the plant or to follow up on the reports.
Why isn't the USDA involved?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for inspections of meat, poultry and egg products. The FDA is responsible for vegetables, fruits, seafood and manufactured products not based on meat, poultry or eggs. Therefore, peanut butter inspections and safety are the FDA's responsibility.
What can Americans do to protect themselves from this and other problem foods?
Many experts question the FDA's ability to handle its responsibilities when it comes to keeping our American food and drug supplies safe. The FDA claims it can't keep pace due to budget cuts and the expansion of so much manufacturing of American foods being done in other countries.
For now, as citizens and patients, we need to follow the news about recalls, then take our own responsibility for managing health problems and reporting incidents we think may be caused by food or drugs.
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