That Happened!

New York - After five deaths and 453 illnesses from an outbreak of salmonella that federal health officials believe was caused by peanut butter and peanut paste, officials from the Kellogg Company said they will voluntarily recall 16 products that contain products that might be connected to the outbreak. Products recalled include Keebler peanut butter and cheese sandwich crackers, and Famous Amos and Keebler peanut butter cookies.

“The actions we are taking today are in keeping with our more than 100- year commitment to providing consumers with safe, high-quality products,” said David Mackay, president and CEO, Kellogg Company. “We apologize for this unfortunate situation.”

The salmonella was found in the Blakely, Georgia, plant of Peanut Corporation of America, which does work for Kellogg, according to Food and Drug Administration Officials. According to preliminary investigations, peanut butter and peanut paste would be used in such products as cookies, crackers, and ice cream, and was manufactured locally. Officials say the peanut butter and peanut paste from the plant is the probable cause of the outbreak.

Peanut Corporation has voluntarily agreed to the recall. The Blakely Plant is the main source of the investigation, according to Food and Drug Administration officials.

The salmonella outbreak has affected 43 states and in Canada, and 22 percent of the affected people have been hospitalized. Of the people who died from the disease, four had other illnesses that weakened their immune systems.

The peanut butter which was recalled was reportedly sold in bulk packaging containers. The containers had peanut butter with amounts ranging from five pounds to 1,700 pounds. The containers ranged in size from 35 pounds to tanker-sized.

Company officials said the peanut butter that was sold was for institutions, not the general public.
Officials from Kellogg Company said they were recalling products that have the “potential” of becoming contaminated.

Peanut Corporation of America President Stewart Parnell said that unopened containers with new product samples tested positive for salmonella.

Center for Disease Control (CDC) spokesman Dr. Robert Tauxe said peanut butter is used in many foods. He added that makes the investigation “complicated.” He said CDC , state, and Food and Drug Administration officials are asking those who have become ill if they remember eating particular kinds of foods.

Tauxe said there are 40,000 salmonella cases in the United States every year. He said the Salmonella Typhimurium strain, which has been evident in the latest outbreak, accounts for about 20 percent of those cases.

Tauxe said that in general peanut butter does not support the growth of salmonella. For that reason, it is often stored without being refrigerated.

Tauxe said if salmonella is put into peanut butter it will not be destroyed but also will not grow further. In other words, the salmonella remains dormant.

Salmonella can cause cramping, diarrhea, and fever. Sometimes, the very young or very old can die from it. A Georgia plant was closed in 2007 because of an outbreak.

Products impacted by the recall were produced on or after July 1, 2008, including:

Austin® Quality Foods Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter - all sizes
Austin® Quality Foods Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers - all
sizes
Austin® Quality Foods Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter -
all sizes
Austin® Quality Foods PB & J Cracker Sandwiches - all sizes
Austin® Quality Foods Super Snack Pack Sandwich Crackers
Austin® Quality Foods Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers - all
sizes
Austin® Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter - all sizes
Austin® Quality Foods Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich
Crackers
Austin® Quality Foods Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter
Sandwich Crackers
Austin® Quality Foods Cookie/Cracker Pack
Austin® Quality Foods Variety Pack
Keebler® Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers - all sizes
Keebler® Toast & PB’n J Flavored Sandwich Crackers - all sizes
Keebler® Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers - all sizes
Famous Amos® Peanut Butter Cookies (2- and 3-ounce)
Keebler® Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies (2.5-ounce)