Minnesota links salmonella outbreak to peanut butter

[Robbien]

Source: Star Tribune

Minnesota disease investigators once again may have solved the riddle of a nation-wide salmonella outbreak. This time the culprit is peanut butter.

Officials from the state Department of Health said late Friday that a sample taken from a tub of King Nut brand creamy peanut butter has the same genetic fingerprint as the salmonella bacteria linked to an outbreak that has sickened 400 people in 42 states, including 30 in Minnesota. Further testing on cases outside Minnesota will be needed to confirm that the peanut butter is the source of those illnesses as well, "but we think it's likely," said state health department spokesman Doug Schultz.

The peanut butter, sold in 5-pound containers to food service companies that supply schools, hospitals and other institutions, does not usually end up on supermarket shelves.

Kirk Smith, supervisor of food born diseases at the state health department, said that the clue in this outbreak was that many of the Minnesotans who became ill had eaten in institutional settings. That included nursing homes, schools, and colleges, he said.

"What they had in common was this brand of peanut butter," he said. "That was enough."

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/37368434.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUHPYDiaK7DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

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Meanwhile the Washington Post has a late breaking article:Officials Still Seek Source of Salmonella Outbreak

FRIDAY, Jan. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened almost 400 Americans in 42 states remains unknown, U.S. health officials said Friday, adding that more cases are expected.

"Cases are continuing to occur, and it is an ongoing investigation," said Dr. Rajal Mody, a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. "The first people began getting ill in September, but it usually takes several weeks before enough cases have been reported to start noticing a possible outbreak."


Our crackerjack federal government hard at work.

[babylonsister]

Does anyone know who's in line to head the CDC? Sounds like

it needs help.

So does the news.

[Robbien]

4. It is a political appointment. The good news is, the current CDC chief is quitting

CDC director is out, government e-mail says
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhrVm-x6ltw4FyGw2IDyUeR43oMAD95K0KRG2

ATLANTA (AP) — The head of the federal government's public health agency is stepping down, according an e-mail sent Friday night to federal employees.

Dr. Julie Gerberding has resigned as director of the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and will be replaced on an interim basis by a deputy as of Jan. 20, the day President-elect Barack Obama is inaugurated.

The e-mail obtained by The Associated Press that discloses the news was sent Friday night to employees of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which the CDC is part of.

As a matter of practice, an incoming president asks the outgoing administration to request the resignation of its political appointees. In some instances, a current official is allowed to stay in place, at least for a few months. In others, the resignation is accepted.

"As part of the transition process, the Administration requested resignation letters from a number of senior-level officials, including Dr. Julie Gerberding. This week, the Administration accepted Dr. Gerberding's resignation, effective January 20," CDC spokesman Glen Nowak said in a prepared statement, when asked about her departure.

[Ian David]

5. Here's the current head of The CDC

[babylonsister]

6. Bwhahaha! You are so refreshing! nt

[napi21]

1. There was a problem with Peter Pan PB a while ago too. I

remember it being off the shelves for a long time. I don't remember if it was salmonella though.

[davsand]

3. My first thought was "Oh crap--I just bought Peter Pan and they are recalling it again?"

Literally, I bought a jar of Peter Pan sugar free peanut butter just two days ago. It was the very first one I have purchased since that recall.

I was seriously pissed last time because I was holding two jars of their product. My local grocery store had a "two fer" sale and I had taken advantage of the offer. It was no big deal to get the refund on the peanut butter, but it was just a pain in the butt to remember to drag it back to the store.

I finally decided that sugar free peanut butter was good enough to forgive them, and I was worried I'd made a big mistake.

Glad to hear I'm still ok.



Laura

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Isn't this the second time in the last couple of years that peanut butter was the culprit?

Well, actually the food company...

and, yup.
Another salmonella outbreak due to peanut butter back in 2007.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/15/AR2007021500597.html

Peanut Butter Recalled Over Salmonella

By JOSH FUNK
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 15, 2007; 12:19 PM

OMAHA, Neb. -- ConAgra Foods Inc. told consumers to discard certain jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter after the spread was linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened almost 300 people nationwide.

[JerseygirlCT]

7. It's not just me - this is happening more and more often, isn't it? nt

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. Peanut butter manufacturer sued by Missouri family-2007

Posted on February 16, 2007
SPRINGFIELD, MO – A Salmonella lawsuit was filed Friday in United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri against ConAgra, the Omaha, Nebraska-based food company whose Georgia peanut butter plant has been traced as the source of a Salmonella outbreak that sickened hundreds. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Buchannan County, Missouri, residents Brian and Susanna Cox and their two children. The Cox family is represented by Seattle-based Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm that has represented thousands of victims of foodborne illness outbreaks, and Springfield, Missouri-based Aleshire, Robb & Sivils.

In the lawsuit, attorneys allege that the Cox family first became ill with symptoms of Salmonella infections in October, 2006 and that both children required medical treatment. Unaware of the association between the consumption of peanut butter and their illnesses, the Cox family continued to purchase and consume Great Value brand peanut butter in the subsequent months. The Cox family first learned of a Salmonella outbreak traced to Great Value brand peanut butter on February 14, 2007, when the Food and Drug Administration announced Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter manufactured in ConAgra’s Georgia peanut butter plant had been traced as the source of a Salmonella outbreak among nearly 300 residents of 39 states.

http://www.salmonellablog.com/tags/salmonella-peanut/

Growing up I never heard of even peanut allergies let alone having a salmonella problem
Now it is common place. I wonder if something is going on that scientists haven't
researched such as a tie to new genetic strands by Monsanto and crop pesticides.


Salmonella problems may be lack of inspection at the plant and washing the legume during
processing.

I BLAME BUSH.