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Georgia Plant Expanding Recall of ALL Peanut Products

By Jessica Smagacz

Today the Peanut Corporation of America is voluntarily recalling all peanuts and peanut products processed at the Blakely, Georgia facility since January 1, 2007, FDA reports.

This comes after several weeks of investigation with the spotlight on the Peanut Corporation of America. Investigations revealed just yesterday that the Peanut Corporation of America failed to follow safe food practices when it found evidence of salmonella bacteria in its products and still sold them. See our earlier post: Peanut Corporation of America Found Salmonella & Sold Products Anyway for more details.

Peanut Corporation of America finally recalled all products with peanuts processed in Georgia just after this investigation came to light. How convenient.

This recall is an expanded one in comparison to the recalls they announced previously. Although they have expanded the recall, FDA reports that the Peanut Corporation of America has not received any complaints or reports of illness from the additional recall.

What is included in this expanded recall?

-All peanuts (dry and oil roasted)

-Granulated peanuts

-Peanut meal

-Peanut butter

-Peanut paste

Description:
Peanut Butter All Styles All Sizes All Lots beginning with 7, 8, or 9
Peanut Paste All Styles All Sizes All Lots beginning with 7,8, or 9
Peanut Meal All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8, or 9
Peanut Granules All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8 or 9
Peanuts All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8 or 9

The finding of salmonella bacteria at this Georgia plant was linked to the nationwide outbreak of salmonella, sickening more than 500 people and has been linked to eight deaths.

FDA has put this warning on their website:

“Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Because some of our peanut products have been used by manufacturers of pet food, we are also alerting the public that Salmonella is an organism that can potentially be transferred to people handling pet treats exposed to Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.”

Keep in mind the actual test results taken from samples of peanut butter containers in the Georgia plant tested POSITIVE for salmonella.

Salmonella poisoning can become a dangerous sickness. If you have eaten peanut butter, look out for these symptoms of salmonella: Diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.

If you or someone close to you has salmonella poisoning, you may want to contact the attorneys at Childers & Schlueter, LLP to see how they can help protect your legal rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Full post as published by Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer on January 28, 2009 (boomark / email).