FDA Issues Warning on Foods Containing Peanut Butter

Federal health officials are now advising consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other peanut butter-containing foods until more can be learn a deadly outbreak of Salmonella contamination.  The warning does not cover peanut butter sold in jars directly to consumers.

Officials are focusing on peanut paste, as well as peanut butter, produced at a plant in Blakely, Ga., owned by the Peanut Corporation of America.  Its peanut butter is distributed to institutions and food companies but not sold directly to consumers.  The peanut paste is an ingredient in cookies, cakes and other products sold in supermarkets around the country.

So far, over 470 people in 43 states, including Pennsylvania, have been sickened in this large salmonella outbreak.  At least 90 people have been hospitalized, and at least six deaths have been linked to this outbreak.

The Kellogg Company, which listed the Peanut Corporation as one of its suppliers, has recalled 16 peanut butter-containing products. They include the Austin and Keebler brands of peanut butter sandwich crackers and some snack-size packs of Famous Amos peanut butter cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle peanut butter cookies.

More information is available from the food poisoning attorneys of Pennsylvania.