On February 14, 2007, Peter Pan peanut butter was recalled due to salmonella contamination and widespread reports of related illnesses in multiple US cities.
The US Food and Drug Administration warned the public not to eat Peter Pan or Great Value Peanut Butter.
The recalled peanut butter jars had the product code 2111 on the jar lid. Consumers were advised to avoid or throw away recalled peanut butter if purchased since May 2006.
Salmonella is a bacterium that causes illness when ingested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study in February that drew the connection between 288 cases of food borne illnesses in 39 states to consumption of certain types of Peter Pan peanut butter.
The first illness related to the product was believed to be recorded in August 2006. As a result of broad epidemiological testing and case control studies, the CDC was able to identify Peter Pan peanut butter as the likely cause of illness.
Symptoms of the illness appear one to four hours after consumption, according to experts. The symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and fever.
Minister Gray said even though the non-contaminated peanut butter has returned to shelves in the US he is reluctant to give the same go-ahead to stores in The Bahamas.
"We have not released the peanut butter going back on the shelves for fear they may still want to sell the 2111 label and we want to make sure that that brand label is off and out of market circulation," Minister Gray said.
He said in due course he intends to make an announcement to say when the shops have been cleared to return Peanut Pan peanut butter to the shelves.
"But for now the ban is still in place and when we can we will give the clear signal," Minister Gray said.
In an update on the illness, the FDA website indicates that it is conducting an extensive inspection of ConAgra’s Sylvester, a Georgia processing plant.
Samples collected by the FDA revealed the presence of salmonella.
The website said, "The fact that FDA found salmonella in the plant environment further suggests that the contamination likely took place prior to the product reaching consumers.
Tests by several states identified salmonella in many open jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter recovered from consumers. In these instances, the salmonella found in the plant and in the open jars matched the outbreak strain recovered from consumers who became ill."
ConAgra recalled all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111. This recall extends back to products made since December 2005.
The D’Albenas Agency distributes Peter Pan in The Bahamas. Minister Gray had advised persons to return the peanut butter with that product code in order to receive a refund.
- Austin DWI - New York DWI