UPDATE: Salmonella Outbreak in 42 States Peanut Butter

King Nut Company of Solon Ohio has issued a recall under the King Nut and Parnell's Pride brands of peanut butter. The peanut butter was purchased from Peanut Corp. of America of Lynchburg, Virginia. These brands ARE NOT SOLD IN RETAIL STORES, and only distributed in foodservice and institutions in 5 pound packages. The Centers for Disease Control is working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with the individual state’s public health officials in the investigation of the multistate outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium. As of Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 388 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 42 states, 70 people have been hospitalized. It appears that the illnesses began between September 3 and December 29, 2008, with most illnesses beginning after October 1, 2008. As of this morning, CDC has not reported that they have identified the source of the Salmonella outbreak just that it is probably from a food source. Since the outbreak has been reported in 42 states, it is likely that the source is a widely distributed product. The symptoms of Salmonella are diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. If you have symptoms similar, you should have your doctor take a culture of a stool sample, which is the most common form of diagnosis. Salmonella can be serious: if severe infection occurs, it may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death. For more information, or updates on this outbreak visit here www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Salmonella_Questions_&_Answers/index.asp

King Nut Company of Solon Ohio has issued a recall under the King Nut and Parnell's Pride brands of peanut butter. The peanut butter was purchased from Peanut Corp. of America of Lynchburg, Virginia. These brands ARE NOT SOLD IN RETAIL STORES, and only distributed in foodservice and institutions in 5 pound packages.

The Centers for Disease Control is working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with the individual state’s public health officials in the investigation of the multistate outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium.

As of Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 388 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 42 states, 70 people have been hospitalized. It appears that the illnesses began between September 3 and December 29, 2008, with most illnesses beginning after October 1, 2008.

As of this morning, CDC has not reported that they have identified the source of the Salmonella outbreak just that it is probably from a food source. Since the outbreak has been reported in 42 states, it is likely that the source is a widely distributed product.

The symptoms of Salmonella are diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. If you have symptoms similar, you should have your doctor take a culture of a stool sample, which is the most common form of diagnosis. Salmonella can be serious: if severe infection occurs, it may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death.

For more information, or updates on this outbreak, click here.