News Release
February 20, 2007
Colorado Department Of Education Press Release On Peanut Butter Recall
State health officials from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Thursday warned consumers not to eat jars of Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter with the product code on the lid that begins with the number "2111" because of the risk of Salmonella Tennessee contamination. Consumers are advised to throw away containers of the affected peanut butter.
Salmonella is a bacterium that causes foodborne illness. Symptoms of Salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting. Consumers who experience these symptoms after eating the affected peanut butter should contact their health care provider immediately.
There are currently 10 cases in Colorado that have been linked to a nationwide Salmonella outbreak, which has involved 288 cases of foodborne illness in 39 states from the consumption of varying types of Peter Pan peanut butter. At this time no deaths have been reported by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) associated with the outbreak.
Parachini said ConAgra manufactured the affected jars in a single facility in Sylvester, Georgia. FDA has sent investigators into ConAgra's processing plant where the products are made, to review records, collect product samples and conduct tests for Salmonella Tennessee.
ConAgra is recalling all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 that already was distributed. The company is also destroying all affected products in their possession. The company will cease production until the exact cause of contamination can be identified and eliminated. ConAgra is asking that consumers with the recalled peanut butter discard the product, but save the product lid. Consumers must return the Peter Pan or Great Value Peanut Butter product lid along with their name and mailing address to ConAgra Foods, P.O. Box 3768, Omaha, NE 68103 for a full refund. For more information, consumers may call ConAgra at 866-344-6970 or the Department of Public Health and Environment at 303-692-3620.
They may also visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site at www.cdc.gov.