FDA Warning About Certain Jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter-Truth!
Summary of eRumor:
The eRumor is a warning not to eat jars of Peter Pan peanut butter with the product code “2111” because of Salmonella contamination.
The Truth:
The warning is true and was issued on February 14, 2007 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
On February 26, 2007, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had confirmed the presence of Salmonella in the ConAgra peanut butter and also said that they were looking into two deaths believed to have died as a result and that hundreds had been sickened.
The FDA says that both Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter is affected and both have the same product code on the lid of the jar that beings with the number “2111.” They were manufactured in the same facility in Georgia by a company called ConAgra. The FDA says that Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers and with different product codes are not affected. ConAgra was recalling any affected jars and encouraged anyone with one of the jars to throw it away.
The FDA release said there was a risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The first person to get sick may have become ill as early as August, 2006. The FDA warned that for people with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can cause life-threatening infections. Anyone who ate the affected peanut butter and had any of the described symptoms was encouraged to get professional medical help immediately and report any Salmonella poisoning to state or local health authorities.
Updated February 26, 2007