Archive for January, 2009
Following are updates for the ongoing Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to Peanut Corporation of America’s peanut products. It was a week filled with shocking disclosures regarding practices in the food industry, and underscores just how urgently our regulatory system needs repair.
Updates for the PCA Salmonella outbreak, week of January 26, 2009:
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The CDC reports 529 Salmonella illnesses and 8 deaths may be linked to Peanut Corporation of America’s (PCA) peanut butter and peanut products.
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Because most of the tainted products were distributed to schools and other institutions, more than half of the outbreak victims are children.
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Federal officials announce California, Idaho, and Minnesota were shipped peanut products that may have been tainted, as part of the National School Lunch Program.
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All 8 deaths occurred in individuals over the age of 59, highlighting the vulnerability of the elderly to food poisoning complications.
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PCA expands recall to include all whole peanuts (dry and oil roasted), granulated peanuts, peanut meal, peanut butter, and peanut paste.
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Fifty-three companies recall more than 430 foods made with PCA peanuts and peanut products.
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FDA inspection of the PCA Blakely, GA, processing plant reveals that on 12 occasions the company shipped Salmonella contaminated products to other food companies for use in the production of food products.
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FDA inspection reveals that PCA failed to provide a safe manufacturing process that would have prevented the contamination of peanut products both during and after manufacturing.
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FDA inspection reveals that numerous Salmonella species, including the S. Typhimurium serotype were isolated from product, equipment, and environmental surfaces at the PCA plant.
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Investigative reporters reveal that in April of 2008, Canadian officials rejected a PCA shipment of chopped peanuts because it contained metal fragments.
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Although federal food safety inspectors, follow-up on metal fragment issue, it is learned that they had not been to the Georgia plant since 2001.
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FDA and US Justice Department announce criminal investigation of the PCA Salmonella outbreak.
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President Obama’s administration pledges stricter oversight of food safety.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg is currently assisting individuals sickened in the Peanut Corporation of America peanut butter outbreak. We are ready to help you. If you believe that you were injured in this latest Salmonella outbreak, please submit a Free Case Evaluation Form, or call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274.
January 31st, 2009
To date, 7 deaths have been linked to the current Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak, the source of which has been traced to peanut butter and peanut butter paste produced by Peanut Corporation of America. Although the exact cause of death in each case has not been determined, all seven people died after being infected with Salmonella Typhimurium.
Health officials reported that the latest victim was an elderly woman from Minnesota. They have also indicated that most of the other deaths linked to the outbreak have involved the elderly, underscoring the fact that although anyone can contract Salmonella food poisoning, the young, elderly, and very sick are at greatest risk for complications due to the infection.
The FDA advises that persons who think they may have become ill after eating peanut butter or peanut butter products, should contact their health care providers. Salmonella infection can be confirmed by a stool culture, which a doctor can order.
Symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning may include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and joint pain. Symptoms usually appear within 12-72 hours after the ingestion of contaminated food.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg currently represents Salmonella peanut butter outbreak victims, and we are ready to assist you. If you have a question concerning your legal rights, please see free case evaluation or contact us toll-free at 1-877-934-6274.
January 25th, 2009
All week long, our firm has been receiving calls from individuals who have experienced food poisoning symptoms after eating peanut butter cracker snacks. Now, just days after recalling 16 of its products, Kellogg has announced that federal authorities have confirmed the presence of Salmonella in its peanut butter crackers.
According to Kellogg Co., Salmonella contamination was detected by the FDA in a package of Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter.
It stands to reason that if a product is manufactured using Salmonella contaminated ingredients, then the end product itself will be contaminated with Salmonella. Fearing just this scenario, food companies and retailers have been scrambling to recall products made with Peanut Corporation of America’s contaminated peanut butter, or peanut butter paste.
The following Kellogg products produced on or after July 1, 2008, are subject to recall:
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Austin® Quality Foods Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter - all sizes
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Austin® Quality Foods Cheese & Peanut ButterSandwich Crackers – all sizes
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Austin® Quality Foods Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter – all sizes
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Austin® Quality Foods PB & J Cracker Sandwiches – all sizes
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Austin® Quality FoodsSuper Snack Pack Sandwich Crackers
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Austin® Quality Foods Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
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Austin® Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter – all sizes
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Austin® Quality Foods Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
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Austin® Quality Foods Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
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Austin® Quality FoodsCookie/Cracker Pack
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Austin® Quality FoodsVariety Pack
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Keebler® Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
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Keebler® Toast & PB’n J Flavored Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
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Keebler® Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
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Famous Amos® Peanut Butter Cookies (2- and 3-ounce)
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Keebler® Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies (2.5-ounce)
To learn more about Salmonella food poisoning, please see Salmonella Food Poisoning Symptoms.
The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg, along with co-counsel Andrew Childers of Atlanta, Georgia, represent hundreds of individuals who were sickened in the Peter Pan Salmonella outbreak of 2007. If you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or see Free Legal Case Evaluation.
For postings on this blog related to the current peanut butter Salmonella outbreak, please see Austin Keebler Recall, Peanut Corporation of America Recall, and King Nut Recall. You may also wish to visit our additional website dedicated to food safety and food poisoning litigation by clicking on Food Lawyer.
January 19th, 2009
Consumers are warned not to eat Austin® and Keebler® brand Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Crackers, Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Sandwich Crackers, because the products may have been manufactured with peanut butter contaminated with the bacterium, Salmonella Typhimurium. The crackers are manufactured by Kellogg Company.
The peanut butter used by Kellogg to produce Austin® and Keebler® brand peanut butter crackers, was manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America, whose peanut butter has been linked to the recent Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak.
According to the CDC there are 434 confirmed cases of Salmonella Typhimurium food poisoning and 5 deaths, which may be linked to Salmonella contaminated peanut butter. Twenty-eight percent of the Salmonella outbreak victims have been hospitalized.
In related Salmonella recalls, Peanut butter distributer King Nut recalled its peanut butter on January 10, and Peanut Corporation of America recalled peanut butter produced in its Blakely, Georgia processing facility on January 13. Peanut butter sold under the King Nut label was manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America. Both companies’ products have been linked to the ongoing Salmonella outbreak.
The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg, along with co-counsel Andrew Childers of Atlanta, Georgia, represent hundreds of individuals who were sickened in the Peter Pan Salmonella outbreak of 2007. If you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or see Free Legal Case Evaluation.
January 15th, 2009
Peanut processor, Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), has recalled peanut butter produced at its Blakely, Georgia plant, because it may be contaminated by the foodborne pathogen, Salmonella. PCA manufactures and provides peanut butter for bulk use to institutions, food service industries, and private label foods.
The recall peanut butter was produced on or after July 1, 2008. Lot numbers for the recalled peanut butter are: lots 8193, 8194, 8197, 8233, 8234, 8235, 8241, 8255, 8256, 8275, 8276, 8282, 8283, 8284, 8296, 8316, 8330, 8331, 8336, 8345, 8354.
PCA also provides the stock numbers and product descriptions:
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
PCA peanut butter is sold under the label Parnell’s Pride for institution and food industry use. PCA peanut butter was sold to King Nut and marketed under the label King Nut brand peanut butter. Most recently, it was learned that PCA supplied Kellogg Company their peanut butter paste for use in the production of Austin and Keebler brand peanut butter sandwich crackers.
The PCA peanut butter recall was initiated days after the Minnesota Department of Agriculture isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium from a 5 pound tub of King Nut peanut butter obtained from a nursing home. To date, the CDC reports 434 confirmed cases of Salmonella Typhimurium food poisoning and 5 deaths, which may be linked to Salmonella contaminated peanut butter. Twenty-eight percent of the Salmonella outbreak victims have been hospitalized.
To learn more about Salmonella food poisoning, please see Salmonella Symptoms and Complications.
The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg, along with co-counsel Andrew Childers of Atlanta, Georgia, represent hundreds of individuals who were sickened in the Peter Pan Salmonella outbreak of 2007. If you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or see Free Legal Case Evaluation.
To learn about related Salmonella peanut butter recalls, please see Peanut Butter Cracker Recall, King Nut Recall, Salmonella Peanut Butter, Salmonella Lawsuit.
January 15th, 2009
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