Salmonella Outbreak in Peanut Butter

Article in the Wall Street Journal -- Salmonella Outbreak Traced To Peter Pan Peanut Butter, by the Associated Press:

ConAgra Foods Inc. is recalling some jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter after the products were linked to a recent salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 300 people.

Consumers should throw away all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter jars that have a product code beginning with the number "2111" imprinted on the lid, ConAgra said. Officials at the Omaha, Neb., company haven't said how much peanut butter will be affected by the recall, but said consumers can return the product lids for a full refund.

Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe this to be the first salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter in the U.S.

Since August, the outbreak has sickened 288 people in 39 states, federal health officials said Wednesday. About 20% of them have been hospitalized but none has died, said Mike Lynch, a CDC epidemiologist. About 85% of the infected people said they ate peanut butter, CDC officials said. The largest number of cases were reported in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri.

BGS