Peanut Butter Salmonella Recall Expanded to Include Crackers, Cookies
Published: January 19th, 2009 • Comments: 72
An initial peanut butter recall issued last week for large tubs of peanut butter potentially contaminated with Salmonella, was expanded over the weekend to include peanut paste made at the same manufacturing plant. This paste may have been used by a number of different manufacturers in products like peanut butter crackers, cookies, cakes and ice cream.
Health officials indicate that a recent salmonella food poisoning outbreak, which has surfaced over the past four months, appears to be linked to peanut butter manufactured at a Georgia processing plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America.
Product samples have tested positive for Salmonella typhimurium, which is the same strain of bacteria that has been identified in over 400 people who have been sickened in at least 43 states.
According to a peanut butter recall notice issued by Peanut Corporation of America on January 13, 2009, 21 lots of large 5 pound to 50 pound containers of peanut butter sold through distributors to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other food service providers were recalled due to potential salmonella contamination.
At that time, the manufacturer indicated that none of the peanut butter recalled was being sold directly to consumers through retail stores.
On January 18, 2009, the Peanut Corporation of America recall was expanded to include peanut paste manufactured at the same Georgia processing plant. The peanut paste, which is a concentrated product containing ground, roasted peanuts, was sold to manufacturers of a variety of different products that contain peanut butter.
On Sunday and Monday, a number of different manufacturers who sold products containing peanut butter which may have come from paste produced by Peanut Corporation of America issued recalls of their own. Some of the recalls include variations of:
- Austin Peanut Butter Crackers
- Keebler Peanut Butter Crackers
- Famous Amos Peanut butter Cookies
- Keebler Peanut Butter Cookies
- Perry’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
- Shurfine Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
- Wegmans Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Little Debbie Peanut Butter Crackers
- South Bend Chocolate and Fudge with Peanut Butter
- Food Lion Peanut Butter Cookies
- Lofthouse Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chuck’s Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies
- Pastries Plus Gourmet Cookies
- Wal-Mart Peanut Butter Cookies
Given the growing number of products being recalled and the difficulty identifying which products may contain contaminated peanut butter with salmonella, the FDA is urging consumers to avoid eating any commercially-prepared products with peanut butter or peanut butter served at hospitals, nursing homes, schools or other institutional food service locations.
Peanut butter salmonella food poisoning could result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever or abdominal cramps, with symptoms often appearing within 12 to 72 hours and lasting from 4 to 7 days.
While most healthy adults recover without substantial long-term complications, young children, older individuals and those with a weak immune system could be at a greater risk of serious infection, which may result in hospitalization or even death if not treated promptly.
Consumers who believe that they may have peanut butter products that were recalled can contact the manufacturer for additional information.
Food poisoning attorneys who are investigating and reviewing potential peanut butter salmonella lawsuits have recommended that any individuals who have been sickened by a peanut butter product preserve and store any uneaten portions for future testing. The products should be stored in a manner to prevent further consumption.
Comment by Carla on 19 January 2009:
I am one of those affected after eating the Austin brand cookies. I have been sick for the last 2 days and heaven knows how much longer it will take to get me back to my original health.
Comment by Gene on 19 January 2009:
So … I had some product. I throw it out and the offending company can’t replace my product? How’s that going to work. I’m throwing it out … don’t want to get sick, but I purchased bad product.
Comment by RP on 19 January 2009:
Can we purchase peanut butter in a bottle or plastic jas such as Jiffy or skippy?
Comment by Heidi on 19 January 2009:
Buy organic, people! These large companies producing unhealthy food are always the ones with the outbreaks. Why would something found in raw chicken end up in peanut butter? Gross!
Pingback by Peanut Butter Crackers found to have Salmonella : AboutLawsuits.com on 20 January 2009:
[...] Peanut Corporation of America expanded their peanut butter recall on January 16, 2009, to include peanut paste produced at the facility, at least 9 companies have [...]
Comment by Horace on 20 January 2009:
Is paste used in the manufacture of peanut brittle candy?
Comment by Cc on 20 January 2009:
I ate 2 peanut butter sandwiches 3 nights ago I started feelin sick 2 nights ago. I have Skippy peanut butter. Is that what it is from? I have stopped eating it the other person that was also eating out of this jar has been feelin the same way…
Comment by David on 20 January 2009:
I was sick for 2 days from eating the Austin Peanut butter crackers. I had to come home from work early for 2 days. I think there should be a class action lawsuit.
Comment by PBJ on 20 January 2009:
Organic is no better – Nature’s Path Organic Optimum is on the FDA recall list
Pingback by Peanut Butter Salmonella Deaths and Injuries Lead to Lawsuits : AboutLawsuits.com on 21 January 2009:
[...] peanut butter salmonella contamination has been linked to a peanut processing plant in Georgia, which is operated by Peanut Corporation of [...]
Comment by Paige on 21 January 2009:
today, 21 January, i ate a Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Peanut Bar. Does anyone know if that is contaminated??
Comment by bobj on 24 January 2009:
Paige:\You certainly will know if you wind up in the emergency room!!
Comment by jim on 26 January 2009:
Has anyone fallen ill from Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Peanut Bars?
Comment by allan on 27 January 2009:
My wife ate 3 Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut bars on January 24th and on the 25th she became extremely ill with the symtoms of a texbook case of salmonella poisoning. Where do I send the remaining 3 nut bars for testing?
Comment by mike on 27 January 2009:
i got sick from a nature valley peanut butter bar.. the one where the bottom of the bar is coated in peanut butter. i ate it on Jan 20 and had to take two days off from work
Comment by michele on 27 January 2009:
I just ate a nature valley sweet and salty peanut granola bar, I don’t feel so well stomach cramps.
Comment by Deborah on 28 January 2009:
I ate one Sweet and Salty Nut bar at 7 p.m. on Monday 1/26, made by General Mills. Within one hour I had diarrhea and vomiting that is still going on. I stopped vomiting by 5 a.m. but the diarrhea continues. I am so weak I can hardly stand. I have the box here.
Comment by Lori on 28 January 2009:
I have been eating nature valley peanut butter crunchy bars for almost a year now. I have been sick (going on 7 months) 4 emergency room visits. Doctors say I have mulititude of symptoms. Major pain one of them. I looked up this bar on the FDA site. It was not listed. I finally went to a homeopath. He said I had samonella. I guess iIll have to keep my eyes out for this product to be recalled.
Comment by cathy on 28 January 2009:
I have a box of variety crunchy nature valley bars for my kids school snacks and their are peanut butter crunchy bars in it, I’m wondering if they’re not safe even though they’re not listed as recalls. Should I take them back to the store?
Comment by Eric on 28 January 2009:
ate only one nature valley peanut butter and couldn’t function for 2 days, so sick, yet the FDA has yet to add to list WFT!!!
Comment by Lisa on 28 January 2009:
I ate a Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Peanut bar yesterday around 9am and even checked the recall list before I ate it just to be sure. I experienced stomach cramping and diarrhea starting around 5pm and lasting all last night and all today – no vomiting though. Not fun.
Comment by Ernest on 29 January 2009:
I was sick with last week with two days of the worst diarrhea I have ever had. The two peanut products I had eaten were Smucker’s All Natural Peanut Butter and Nature Valley Granola bars (variety pack). Neither of these are on the recall list.
Comment by Jo on 29 January 2009:
Our son has been eating one to two Austin peanut butter crackers per day since school started in September. He eats one package per day for his school snack. And then he is known to occasionally have another package later in the afternoon or evening. As soon as I heard about the contamination, I threw away the remaining packages in our cupboards. For the past month now, our son has been experiencing stomach pain, vomiting and diarreah. He has missed a total of four days of school in the last month. Could this be a stomach flu? Of course! But does it have us thinking? Sure does!
Comment by Sarah on 29 January 2009:
I have been eating the nature valley sweet and salty bars all week…so far I have not been sick, so maybe the box I have is okay. My husband had a peanut butter Detour bar and was sick all day. He is fine now and we didn’t see the Detour bars on the recall list, but just to be safe we are not going to eat them.
Comment by Amanda on 29 January 2009:
OHH my gosh. I just bought 8 boxes of those peanut butter bars and i have been eating them for breakfast lunch and dinner.
im not veryy sick but i have been feeling whoozy shortly after eating
the bars.
I noticed that some taste really weird.
I didnt eat those,
but i was worried so i looked the brand up on the internet.
I dont know.
I threw mine away just to be safe.
Comment by Ginger on 29 January 2009:
My husband and I have eaten Sweet & Salty Peanut bars for several years without incident. They are not on the list of recalls. However we have been experiencing terrible diarrhea and vomiting just recently, so we are going to throw the rest of the bars away. I am not sure why these General Mills bars have not been recalled. From our experience, and the previous comments, they definitely should be recalled. They are dangerous and most likely contain salmonella.
Comment by Cindy on 30 January 2009:
My mom ate two Austin Peanut Butter crackers and immediately started having diarrhea and vomitted (with bile). But I had been eating the same crackers from the same box and one just yesterday. I don’t have any symptoms.
Comment by Alicia on 30 January 2009:
Our family is also ill after eating Sweet and Salty Nut bars by General Mills.
Comment by David on 31 January 2009:
Lovin Oven, LLC Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Certain Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars (January 21)
To the person who thinks eating organic solves all your problems – try this notice from the FDA website on the recall. Organic is a rip-off.
BTW – so far, Nature Valley granola bars containing peanuts are not on the recall list.
Comment by jen on 1 February 2009:
Only comment on Sweet and Salty bars….If you ate 3 of them…Salmonella could be…but more likely a rush because of natures fiber, high sodium intake and lake of H2O can also give you Diahrrea. Realize that besides Salmonella there is also running rampid today a lack of enzymes in our intestines that can also cause diahrrea, and severe intestinal/stomach cramps….I guess I’m just saying; be cautious, contact your physician or ER if your symptoms persist…but use common sense as well.
Comment by keri on 1 February 2009:
My question is why have you not gone to a physican or your Health Department to recieve testing for Samonella ? If you believe you have the symptoms it is very foolish not to find out for sure if you have the illness. Samonella is not something that leaves your body in just a few days, it may stay in your system without symptoms for up to six months.
Comment by Rob on 1 February 2009:
We have a box of 48 bars bought at Costco with an expiration date of May 28, 2009. We bought the box before Christmas. The box is over half empty, and none of us have been sick.
Comment by Stacey on 1 February 2009:
How do I find an exact list of everything that has been recalled for this? Just when this recall came out I was in the ER. Horribly sick, That was on a Saturday. That following Monday I was stilll horribly sick and back to the doctor and now missing a day of work. I have all the labs results back and I have this. I would like a list of exactly what has been recalled so I know where it came from. It’s been a week now and I still am sick. On medication but this is just horrible. I would not wish this one anyone!
Comment by lori on 2 February 2009:
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars, variety pack includes peanut butter. Are these of concern.
Comment by Erik on 2 February 2009:
Have Jif Peanuts and Peanut butter been recalled yet?
Comment by Yolanda on 3 February 2009:
I have been eating the Nature Valley Peanut Butter Granola Bars-crunchy and have had no symtoms.
Comment by lonia on 3 February 2009:
What about clif bars ?????
Comment by Norma on 3 February 2009:
I was very sick for four or five days when i went to the hospital.I had
eaten Food Lion peanut butter and cheese crackers. Lot # L1205 and
#E61846. I Had severe diarreha, vomiting and a sub temp. I normally
have high blood pressure, but my pressure was very low , for me.
But the Doctors said i had gastrointerites. They didnt even want to talk
mention salmonella.
Comment by Norma on 3 February 2009:
I was very sick for four or five days when i went to the hospital.I had
eaten Food Lion peanut butter and cheese crackers. Lot # L1205 and
#E61846. I Had severe diarreha, vomiting and a sub temp. I normally
have high blood pressure, but my pressure was very low , for me I also
had severe stomach cramps. But the Doctors would not mention any
thing about salmonella.
Comment by Cary on 5 February 2009:
General Mills News Release below says Nature Valley products are not recalled. They only have two that are: LÄRABAR Peanut Butter Cookie flavor snack bars and JamFrakas Peanut Butter Blisscrisp flavor snack bars.
http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/media_center/news_release_detail.aspx?itemID=36473&catID=227
Comment by Sudy on 5 February 2009:
Is skippy one of the products infected?
Comment by Lisa on 5 February 2009:
I’ve been eating these nature valley bars for almost two years, and suddenly this box I start vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. I thought I had the flu, but yesterday I ate another one because they weren’t on the recall list, and lo and behold I’m sick again today.
Comment by Erin on 5 February 2009:
This link from General Mills explains which of their products are being recalled:
http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/media_center/news_release_detail.aspx?itemID=36473&catID=227
No Nature Valley listed.
Comment by Cher on 6 February 2009:
I ate a Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Peanut Bar two days ago, and I am NOT sick. They are NOT on the recall list on General Mills web site, and they are safe to eat.
Comment by Tahl on 6 February 2009:
I ate a Nature Valley Sweet and Salty bar on feb. 3rd, and 24 hours later i was the sickest i have ever been… Even tho they’re not om the recall list i wouldnt eat them.
Comment by anita on 6 February 2009:
My husband was rushed to the er in an ambulance 2 weeks ago. He had severe abdominal pain, very weak and heavy sweating. We thought this was a heart attack. He is still having some of these symptoms. With the medical tests still being done, they haven’t found anything yet. We were shopping today and saw the recall on Atkin’s PB bars. He eats at least 1 of these a day. This really makes me wonder if this could be his problem.
Comment by Richard on 8 February 2009:
I had skipped lunch and a colleague gave me Nature Valley Peanut Butter Granola Bars-crunchy– about six hours later it was like a light switch- I started feeling nauseous and immediately got severe diarrhea and vomiting simultaneously- It was horrendous, and the sickest I have ever been, landing me in the hospital. It is now eight days past and I am finally feeling better. People are asking what about this, what about that– Do yourselves a favor- eat NOTHING made of peanuts and peanut butter at this time! You can live without it, and trust me, it’s not worth whatever $$ investment or dependance you may have in the products!
Pingback by Peanut Butter Cracker Lawsuit Filed Against Kellogg Over Salmonella Poisoning : AboutLawsuits.com on 9 February 2009:
[...] typhimurium outbreak has been amended to add Kellogg Co. as a defendant, as they manufactured the peanut butter crackers which caused the plaintiff’s [...]
Comment by Pat on 9 February 2009:
Read the ingredients of anything that you are going to eat. Avoid ‘anything’ with peanuts, peanut butter, peanut paste. It’s that simple. I am even avoiding nuts altogether. You can also check on FDA.GOV and do a search.
Comment by nancy on 11 February 2009:
i got sick and i ate pistaccios from cosco could i have gootten sick from that bad pain in stomache and vomiting and i ate jiffy peanut butter
Comment by Rock on 12 February 2009:
I’ve been eating Sweet and Salty Peanut bars by Nature Valley at least 3-4 times a week and have been fine..?
Comment by John t on 12 February 2009:
Jif presently has no recall on it’s peanut butter and claims not to use any products from P.C.A .skippy I’m not sure about .However I purchased Peter Pan and I’m returning it. one lot number is recalled however I’ve read that you shouldn’t eat any manufactured since 2006 .
also I think I’ll pitch my n.v.granola bars better safe than sorry.
Comment by ct on 13 February 2009:
I also got sick from ONE NATURE’S VALLEY PEANUT BUTTER BAR. WE extremely sick for 3 days, vomiting, diarrhea, SEVERE stomach cramps every 15 minutes. I wanted to die. Please do not eat these, they are NOT safe.
Comment by Michael on 13 February 2009:
I ate these bars starting on Monday. By Wednesday I was extremely sick. Severe stomach cramps and diarrhea every 10 minutes. I bought them in a grocery store in southwestern PA. Watch out for these
Comment by smw on 14 February 2009:
My son ate the crunchy Nature Valley crunchy peanut butter. Before 24 hours were out he had cramping and severe diarrehea. He was just recovering from flu and head cold. Getting better, then he ate a granola bar and back new symptoms – diarrehea. I think these should be recalled. Watch for them!
Comment by Dave on 14 February 2009:
I have had salmonella before and I had it again last night, not fun! from eating a sweet and salty peanut bar.
Comment by Nicole on 14 February 2009:
I just bought Blue Bunny Ice cream from Wall-mart. I ate a bowl full when I noticed this ice cream contained nuts such as peanuts and I immediately went to bluebunny.com and I saw that this item has been recalled because of the peanuts. And Wall-mart still has it on there shelf. I’m really scared and i don’t know what to do!!!. I’m not experiencing any symptoms yet its too soon to tell but IM VERY SCARED!!!!!! LIKE IM LIKE FREKING OUT! I MADE A MISTAKE AND BOUGHT THAT STUPID GOOD FOR NOTHING ICECREAM.. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THERE WHERE PEANUTS IN IT WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU PUT PEANUTS IN THAT!???
Comment by Bette on 16 February 2009:
I also ate Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut Granola Bars and I was sick with diarrhea and a bad headache not long after. I am not positive it is the bars but I wouldn’t take the chance and eat them!
Comment by KK on 17 February 2009:
We have a turtle at our house and people say that it has salmonella also!! Is that true?
Comment by kk on 17 February 2009:
Is resses peanut butter cups safe to eat becuse i ate on and i never got sick. Well at least not that i know of
Comment by Lisa on 17 February 2009:
My husband ate Girl Scout peanut butter cookies and became violently ill. Are they linked to salmonella?
Comment by katie on 17 February 2009:
I just checked the Nature Valley website and its http://www.naturevalley.com and it states that none of there products are part of this massive recall .They do NOT use peanuts from peanut corp of america so there goods are safe to enjoy.
Comment by elaine on 17 February 2009:
I would like to know how to tell the difference between peanut paste and coating on snack bars etc.why don’t the companys making the peanut item put the company they get their peanuts from.also a phone number where consumers can call about their recall products.I also have several boxes of nature valley
Comment by elaine on 17 February 2009:
i would like to know how to tell the difference between peanut paste and other peanut coatings on the recall produtcs.i also have several boxes of nature valley sweet and salty nut granola bars.some we have eaten expire in jan.09 and may 09.thank goodness haven’ t got sick.yet also the co.needs to put phone no.on items for consumers to call. and list what plant the items are made at..
Comment by P Catron on 19 February 2009:
I bought two jars of peanut butter (sold together) of JIF peanut butter a bbefore Christmas. One jar is almost empty and I am wondering whether to open the other jar. I have not been sick. Also havae some Nature Valley sweet and salty peanut bars.
Comment by Brad on 20 February 2009:
My wife ate a Nature Valley Crunchy Peanut Butter Bar on Thursday morning at 7:30a.m. By 7:00p.m. last night, she was violently ill(diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and severe cramping). It’s now 24-hours later and she has not improved. I just checked her in to the ER. They want to test her stool, but after 24 straight hours of diarrhea, she can’t produce a sample anymore, even though the nausea, vomiting & cramping are still there. I don’t care if these bars are not on the recall list…Don’t eat them.
Comment by Paul on 24 February 2009:
A friend of mine in Costa Rica has been eating Nature Valley Peanutbutter bars and today, feb 23, woke up sick as a dog!!! with all of the symptoms. Folks, this is overseas!!! Is there a recall for other countries? What is the treatment? Is ti hospital only or can he take something or just “ride it out”?
Comment by peggy on 25 February 2009:
yes KK turtles carry salmonella – I have owned plenty of these little guy’s and after you handle them immediately wash your hands and I used to also use the antibacterial hand stuff also -
Comment by Lisa on 9 March 2009:
My husband was violently sick last night and I noticed that the Girls Scouts cookies “Peanut Butter Patties” have been opened and some eaten. Does this mean he has salmonella?
Comment by Harrison on 23 March 2009:
I had some Nabisco Nutter butter patties, and got sick, but wasn’t sure if it were related to this recall. I saved them for a month or so to see if they were recalled, but winded up eating them anyway….they tasted too good. Guess what……I got sick again.
Comment by Carolyn on 31 March 2009:
I have gotten Nature Valley Crunchy Honey & Oats. I saw the ingrediants and it had peanut but they were fine like their website says. When is this peanut issue going to be over and solved?
Comment by Bob on 18 May 2009:
Why do people keep eating the bars if they know there’s possible salmonella poisoning?