Salmonella Spread By Peanut Butter

Officials Say Outbreak Causing Nearly 300 Infections In 39 States Traced To Georgia Plant

(CBS/AP)  A salmonella outbreak that has slowly grown to nearly 300 cases in 39 states since August has been linked to tainted peanut butter, federal health officials said.

It is believed to be the first salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter in U.S. history, said officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 20 percent of the 288 infected people have been hospitalized, but none has died, said Dr. Mike Lynch, a CDC epidemiologist.

About 85 percent of the infected people said they ate peanut butter, CDC officials said.

How salmonella got into peanut butter is still under investigation, Lynch said.

The brands pulled from the shelves are Peter Pan and Wal-Mart's Great Value peanut butter — both made by ConAgra — if the jar's product code began with serial number 2111, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann. Health inspectors traced the problem to a peanut butter factory in southern Georgia that has since been closed.

Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

ConAgra said it is recalling all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111.

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"Although none of our extensive product tests have indicated the presence of salmonella, we are taking this precautionary measure because consumer health and safety is out top priority," spokesman Chris Kircher said. "We are working closely with the FDA to better understand its concerns, and we will take whatever additional measures are needed to ensure the safety, quality and wholesomeness of our products."

The largest number of salmonella cases were reported in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri.

Salmonella infection is known each year to sicken about 40,000 people in the United States, according to the CDC. Salmonellosis, as the infection is known, kills about 600 people annually.

Symptoms of salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting.

The salmonella scare comes on the heels of two nationwide outbreaks last fall of the E. coli bacteria, linked to produce.

The new outbreak began in August, but just two or fewer cases have been reported each day, CDC officials said.

It was only in the past few days that investigators were able to hone in on a particular food, Lynch said.

ConAgra is destroying all affected products the company still has, the FDA said.

The company will cease production until the exact cause of contamination can be identified and eliminated. Meanwhile, ConAgra advised consumers to destroy any Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111.

The FDA sent investigators to ConAgra's processing plant in Sylvester where the products were made to review records, collect product samples and conduct tests for salmonella.

A recent CBS News poll found that only 15 percent of Americans have a great deal of confidence in the government's ability to protect from food-borne illness.

CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports (read more) that some lawmakers and food regulation experts believe the American food supply is risk-prone due to poor coordination among federal agencies.

"There's no one in charge in the federal food safety system," Mike Taylor, a former USDA and FDA food safety official told Andrews.

Taylor says most food safety money — 80 percent — goes to the USDA, which visually inspects meat in slaughterhouses, while millions of Americans actually get sick from the invisible germs in produce.

During the past 10 years, Congress has been warned again and again that the food safety system is an organizational mess that does not fully protect consumers, reports Andrews.

But the spinach outbreak last year led to new calls for reform. One idea: Create a single food agency to finally put someone in charge.

Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, says he thinks a single food agency would have traced the last outbreak more quickly. He says under one agency, money could be focused on disease prevention.

[elgraz]

Death is all around us.

[sggunter1]

They just want us to throw it away? How about giving us our money back. I have a jar with the codee 2111 on it , and my son and I have basically eaten a half of jar of it. Does anyone know the what the signs are if you are getting sick. Thanks

[wadyaknow]

You stick to the roof of your coffin.

[ttay2]

My daughter has been sick with adominal pain and vomiting about 3 different times. I just figured it was a stomach virus going around at school. Her stomach was really hurting bad. By the next day she would feel better. This morning I learned about the peanut butter recall with code 2111 and yes looked at the code and we have a jar of it that she has eaten about half a jar. I think my jar needs to be tested.

[payforwater]

I too also have these symptoms but It wasnt either brand of peanut butter. Could there be another brand that might be contaimanated as well? Its the only thing that I ate this past week that was out of the usual.

[andremay]

My family got sick from eating it, too. Has anyone heard about Congra at least refunding our money?

[misterhoward]

I contacted the Wal-mart where we purchased our peanut butter. They said bring it back in to the store, for refund / exchange.

[seemsee-2009]

We have three jars with 2111. One unopened, two half gone. Thought I had virus couple of weeks ago, wonder now if it was the peanut butter. No symtoms before from the half used jars.

[dizzylizzy9]

I also was sick 2 days ago. This morning I took my grandson to school and when I came back my husband asked me what kind of peanut butter do we have? I told him Great Value. He told me about what was on the news and the number on the jar. So we looked there was that number. Now we know we were sick. I'm taking mine back to Walmart to get my money back!

[eric102271]

My 5year old daughter, my wife and myself have all had these symptoms within the past 3 weeks. When I read this story I checked our peanut butter and we had been eating out of one with this code on it. How do I go about getting it tested and who do I contact about looking into this?

[jimbo505]

peanut butter tastes great!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mamab9]

i have a half eaten jar as well with the numbers on it........ my daughter hasnt been sick and she's the only one that's eaten it . Takes peanut butter off my grocery list with the fresh spinach..........

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[cdfgydsryy]

I have a jar of Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" that was made in Bentonville, AR., area code 72716. The story indicates that peanut products made by manufacturing plants other than the one in Georgia are not supposed to be affected. I (and other members of my family) have had the symptoms of Salmonella for over a month. I live in Ruidoso, NM., and there have been many people here hospitalized with these same symptoms. There should be more investigation into this matter, as it is apparently more widespread than the company wants us to know. Thank you so much for this story, my family kept getting reinfected, because we did not know the source of the contamination.

[gangesdak]

Now we know another effect of Salmonella; it is called Brain Repeatative Disorder (BRD).

[rgold02]

I bought mine from Publix Supermkts and it had the code 2111. I hope Publix will let me exchange it. I have not opened either jar. Thank God I heard it on the news this morning! Thank you Media! Rebecca

[schmidtdan]

I have the same Great Value brand peanut butter with the numbers on the lid beginning with "2111" with Bentonville, AR. on the label. I believe though that this refers to the peanut butter being "distributed" out of Bentonville. It could of still have been made in Sylvester, Ga.

[paulette51]

I bought of Peter Pan with the code 2111 from Ingles supermarket. I did open it and ate some with some Ritz crackers approx. two days ago. I haven't had any symptoms of the illness. What would be you advise for me. I destroyed the jar after I saw the News report this morning.

[jlriesbeck]

I read the article at work. I forwarded it to my coworkers becuase my husband found that our peanut butter had the 2111 code on it. I'm glad we haven't eaten much out of the jar.

[dizzylizzy9]

Earlier this morning, I also made a comment and then I started thinking that maybe knowone in my area knows I bought a jar of peanut butter from the walmart with the numbers on it. So I double checked my facts and called the local news station. They interviewed me right away. I live in central wisconsin.

[trose2225]

"About 85 percent of the infected people said they ate peanut butter, CDC officials said." HELLO, have you ever? 85% of the US POPULATION eats peanut butter!!!! I would like to know if the CDC actually tested the jars of peanut butter or is it the assumption since 85% of those infected had one thing in common, the love of peanut butter? Gotta go, gotta finish lunch consisting of peanut butter on graham crackers made with Peter Pan peanut butter. Number on top of jar begins with 2111. Third jar I've consumed in the last few months,,,all with the number 2111 on the top.

[granmabj]

I appreciate the story about the peanut butter,but you did not print the address to send the lids to. I have three jars starting with 2111 and I would like to send in the lids in to be tested. Both my husband and I have been very sick with diahrea,fever,and stomach cramps. We thought it was just a stomach virus, but now we are wondering. Please print the address.

Thank you,
A concerned citizen

[missy0513]

I live in North Port Florida and my husband and I eat peanut butter every morning on our oatmeal pancakes. One of the jars I have, have the numbers 2111 on it. But we are feeling fine. We will be switching peanut butters, of course, but for now everything is okay.

[colecon-2009]

I bought a jar of crunchy 6months ago,3 jars of creamy 2 months ago and 1 jar of creamy 1 month ago. All of the code date begining with 2111...all have different use by dates. This code date is to vague they need to specify more of the numbers. This could be every jar made in 2006.I tried calling the number but its having problems.

[anopinion1]

good thing i eat jiffy peanut butter
mmmmmmmmmmm

[laverne32]

We have two jars of Great Value and one jar of
Peter Pan peanut butter - nowhere on any jar does it state it was made in Bentonville, AR....
it does, however, say it was MARKETED by Wal-Mart in Bentonville, AR.

I'm hoping Wal-Mart will either make a refund or
exchange, but how will we know "any" brand is
now safe for consumption????

[kelrae5]

What are we suppossed to do with the jars of peanut butter? I just bought one earlier this month. I haven't opened it yet, but my little girl loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Do we take it back to the store or what?

[bildooreilly]

salmonella v. mexicanus is the scientific name of this strain.... just say no to corporate food.

[bildooreilly]

So Peter Pan sells the same thing cheaper as Great Value just with a different label, see I knew all these food companies were doing this and that's why it pays to buy generic, you're just paying for some glitzy marketing campaign when you buy Peter Salmonella Pan.

[bildooreilly]

If they say it sickened 288 people it's probably more like 28,000 people. Most people don't go to the doctor when they have a bad case of the sh its.

[sggunter1]

I posted a comment earlier about the peanut butter. I have a jar with the code 2111 on it and have consumed over half of the jar. I purchased it in Little Rock, Ark. last week, and I started feeling sick last night. I am a biology major and I know that it takes a few days for it to start growing inside of you. I have made numerous attempts in contacting this co. but all of the sudden their phone lines are down. The numbers that I have are 1-866-344-6970, 1-800-222-7370,1-877-528-0745. Come on consumes, we need to stand up to this company.At least they could answer our calls.

[sggunter1]

Its me again. I found their web site, but it is down also. www.conagrafoods.com. Also on Wed. didn't they recall over 400,000lbs. of banquet frozes dinners that were also made by conagrafoods. Come on conagra, let us contact you about us being sick. I know a jar only cost less than 5.00, but thats not the point. People can have serious injuries from salmonella. It can affect your liver, kidneys, and other vital organs.

[emtak1]

" MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!Salmonella!"
--Homer Simpson

[besscannon-2009]

If you listened to the whole newscast about the peanut butter they told you to return it to the store where you purchased it for a refund. No problem! See, this is how news, etc. gets screwed up in the repeating, because of poor attention spans. When a news flash as important as this is announced, listen to the WHOLE thing and there will be no confusion.

[emtak1]

"Peanuts are evil-doers. Our new enemy must be destroyed. If we retreat from the peanut fields our enemy will only follow us to our own shores and bring Salmonella to us there. American intelligence conclusively shows us that peanuts are being armed with Salmonella by the Iranian government..."
--President George W. Bush

[sggunter1]

Just loved your comment, about attention span, and the rest of the **** that you had to say. Educate yourself just a little better, and maybe you will understand the concerns. You must be treated with antibotics to kill the infection,

[bildooreilly]

If they're saying 300 that means at least 30,000 have been sickened by this. All because these companies refuse to hire american employees.

[cllumley1]

I have 9 jars and you can bet they are all going back to the store for a switch to another brand. I didn't listen to any broadcast telling me to return it. But the article above says to destroy it. Of course they want us to destroy it can you imagine the cost to the company if everybody returns their product.

[cllumley1]

I have 9 jars and you can bet they are all going back to the store for a switch to another brand. I didn't listen to any broadcast telling me to return it. But the article above says to destroy it. Of course they want us to destroy it can you imagine the cost to the company if everybody returns their product.

[sggunter1]

Well folks, just got a call back from my doctor on my blood work, and now I am being told to check into the hospital because I have the germ. Maybe I should run by wal-mart first to get my 5.00, so I can put it towards my hospital bill.Wish me luck

[cllumley1]

I have 9 jars and you can bet they are all going back to the store for a switch to another brand. I didn't listen to any broadcast telling me to return it. But the article above says to destroy it. Of course they want us to destroy it can you imagine the cost to the company if everybody returns their product.

[cllumley1]

sorry about the multi posts..........