Salmonella in Peanut Butter Confirmed
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found evidence that commercially sold peanut butter is the “likely source” of a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that may have contributed to three deaths.
In all, the CDC said Monday that 410 people in 43 states have been sickened by the same genetically matched bacteria. The government health agency said it is still investigating the cause of the outbreak, but for the first time CDC officials said Monday that the King Nut brand of peanut butter was the only peanut butter in use at long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools and other institutions where clusters of infections occurred in several states.
“To date, no association has been found with common brand names of peanut butter sold in grocery stores,” the CDC said.
Ohio-based King Nut Companies has voluntarily recalled all King Nut and Parnell’s Pride containers of peanut butter that it sells. The company has said the products are only sold to commercial food service accounts, not retail stores. The peanut butter is manufactured by Virginia-based Peanut Corporation of America.
Health investigators in Minnesota first identified King Nut peanut butter as the possible source of the outbreak. Over the weekend, the state’s departments of agriculture and health did further testing of Salmonella bacteria they found in a five-pound tub of King Nut creamy peanut butter that was in use at a long-term care facility where one of Minnesota’s 30 illnesses was reported.
According to a press release, the lab analyses confirmed a genetic match between the strains of Salmonella bacteria found in the container and the strains of bacteria associated with the outbreak illnesses around the country.
But the Minnesota team will continue its investigation. Officials said they will test tubs of the peanut butter never before opened. There is a chance the open container that tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella was cross-contaminated from something else.
The CDC did not provide information about the three outbreak illnesses where death occurred. A spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health has said a Minnesota woman in her 70s who had other health conditions died with an infection.
Advice to consumers:
The CDC said persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter should consult their health care providers.
In addition, if you have been sickened by this outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium, you may be entitled to compensation (King Nut Peanut Butter Lawsuit). To contact our law firm, please call 612-338-0202, 1-800-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit our free case consultation form.
According to the latest breakdown of known cases from the CDC, 410 people have been sickened in 43 states. The top four states are Texas with 55 cases, Ohio with 53, Massachusetts with 40 and Minnesota with 30.
Among 388 persons with dates available, illness began between Sept. 15, 2008, and Jan. 7, 2009. Most illnesses began after Oct. 1. Patients range in age from less than 1 to 98 years; 48 percent are female and 18 percent have been hospitalized.
Tags: king Nut peanut butter, peanut butter recall, peanut butter salmonella, salmonella lawsuit, salmonella lawyer
