Contaminated Peanut Butter List Grows

(CBS/AP)  Kellogg Co. said Monday federal authorities have confirmed that salmonella was found in a single package of its peanut butter crackers, as a Midwestern grocer recalled some of its products because of the scare.

Kellogg had recalled 16 products last week because of the possibility of salmonella contamination.

On Monday, the company based in Battle Creek said that contamination was confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration in a single package of Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter.

Food companies and retailers have been recalling products with peanut butter in them because of suspicion of contamination amid a salmonella outbreak that has killed at least six people and sickened more than 470 others in 43 states. At least 90 people have been hospitalized.

Also Monday, Midwestern grocer and retailer Meijer Inc. said it was recalling two types of crackers and two varieties of ice cream because of the possibility of salmonella contamination: Meijer brand Cheese and Peanut Butter and Toasty Peanut Butter sandwich crackers, and Peanut Butter and Jelly and Peanut Butter Cup ice cream.

It was not immediately clear how many packages of Kellogg crackers had been tested, if more tests were being made on other products or if some had already been found not have salmonella, Kellogg spokeswoman Kris Charles said.

The government on Saturday had advised consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing peanut butter until health officials learn more about the contamination.

Officials have been focusing on peanut paste and peanut butter made at Peanut Corp. of America's plant in Blakely, Ga.

On Sunday, Peanut Corp. expanded its own recall to all peanut butter and peanut paste produced at the Blakely plant since July 1.

The company's peanut butter is not sold directly to consumers but it is distributed to institutions and food companies. The peanut paste, made from roasted peanuts, is an ingredient in cookies, cakes and other products sold to consumers.

Meijer, based in Grand Rapids, said in a news release Monday it was issuing its recall because makers of its products had announced possible contamination. The products are sold in Meijer stores and gas stations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

The recall last week by Kellogg, the world's largest cereal maker, affected products including Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies, Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers. Charles said the recall affected 7 million cases of its products.

Kellogg Chief Executive David Mackay said the company would evaluate its processes "to ensure we take necessary actions to reassure consumers and rebuild confidence in these products."

Salmonella, a bacteria, is the most common cause of food poisoning in the U.S., causing diarrhea, cramping and fever.

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List of Company Recalls, according to the Food and Drug Administration:

• Meijer Brand, Some Peanut Butter Crackers and Ice Cream (Voluntary Recall, January 19)
  
  
• Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Wal-Mart Bakery Brand Peanut Butter Cookies (Possible Health Risk, January 18)
  
  
• Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Lofthouse Peanut Butter Cookies, Chuck's Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies And Pastries Plus Gourmet Cookies (Possible Health Risk, January 18)
  
  
• Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Food Lion Bake Shop Peanut Butter Cookies Nationwide (Possible Health Risk, January 18)
  
  
• South Bend Chocolate Company, Various Candys Containing Peanut Butter (Possible Salmonella Contamination, January 18)
  
  
  

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• McKee Foods Corporation, Little Debbie® Peanut Butter Toasty and Peanut Butter Cheese Sandwich Crackers Because of Possible Health Risk (Voluntary Nationwide Recall, January 18)
  
  
  
  
• Perry's Ice Cream Company, Select Peanut Butter Ice Cream Products(Voluntary Recall, January 17)
  
  
• Hy-Vee Inc., Bakery Products with Peanut Butter Distributed in Seven States Due to Possible Health Risk (January 17)
  
  
  

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• Kellogg Company, Austin® and Keebler® Branded Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers and Select Snack-Size Packs of Famous Amos® And Keebler® Soft Batch Peanut Butter Cookies (Voluntary Recall, January 16)
  
  
  
• Peanut Corporation of America, Peanut Butter (Voluntary Nationwide Recall, January 13)
  
  
• King Nut, Peanut Butter (January 10)
  

[spadeisspade]

MMMMM.....Nutella on a warm croissant....

[jimesmith2]

You creepy Yanks!! Peanut Butter? Really? Serves you right. Nutella is the only civilized spread.

[wilcox09]

in regards to the story i was refering to below it was the cheese and crackers i think they are made by nabisco but please dont quote me................

[wilcox09]

this morning on your early (4:30 am) news your reporter stated that there were no reported cases of people who have gotten sick from the peanut butter scare, I wanted to inform you that your information was incorrect in fact the was a 7 year old boy in vermont who got very very sick. you can find out more info at :http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=9702172

[emaegf]

Neither Hersey''s nor Nabisco use peanut butter from the company connected to the contamination. So eat away at those Oreos

http://www.hersheys.com/recall/peanutbutter.asp

http://kraft.com/MediaCenter/country-press-releases/Peanut_Butter_Ingredients_Update

[timothyone-2009]

I have had the monster runs for a week now and my stomach hurts like hell. I haven''t been able to get out of bed for three days. I''ve had blood coming out both ends, and I have eaten lots of stuff on that list! If I survive can I sue?

[mnelsonix]

Never eat at a place called Sam "n" Ellas.
Posted by jamster31 at 02:35 PM
+
Ok ... Cute.

[thgdriver1]

My wife puts two Lance crackers and peanut butter packages in my lunch every day. I am posting this so every one knows what really happened to me. Should anything happen to me.

[tmittelstaed]

Unless your eating peanut butter quite rapidly such as going through an entire jar in a week, you should be keeping it in the refrigerator even when it''s unopened. Salmonella grows much faster at room temperature than in a refrigerator. Most people can deal with small amounts of salmonella with no problems which is why cases of it are not reported that much.

[cwbyht]

I give up my peanut butter crackers when they pluck them from my cold dead salmonella ridden hands!