The ongoing outbreak began in August 2006. So far there have been 329 cases of illness with 51 hospitalizations due to consumption of the contaminated peanut butters. However, no deaths have been reported to date.
The recent warning from the FDA came after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study that indicated a link between 288 cases of the food-borne illness and the peanut butter brands.
This link was found to have affected 39 states that sold these certain jars of peanut butter. Most of the cases reported have been in the following states: NY, PA, VA, TN and MO.
The CDC officials reported that 85 percent of the people who have been infected with the illness reported eating the peanut butter.
The potentially dangerous contamination affects all Peter Pan brand peanut butter products and the jars of Great Value brand peanut butter products with a product code beginning with the numbers 2111 located on the lid of the jars.
All of the affected products should be discarded.
The manufacturer, ConAgra has recalled all of these products from the stores to which they distribute their product. All production of these products has been stopped at their Georgia plant until the exact cause can be determined and eliminated. The FDA and the CDC is also working with state and local officials to identify the culprit of the contamination.
Some Great Value brand peanut butter products that are made by other manufacturers are not believed to have been affected by this contamination.
For individuals who have a weakened immune system or poor health from other conditions, salmonella poisoning can cause life-threatening infection(s).
The CDC's data indicates that salmonella poisoning causes about 40,000 humans to get sick each year, with the infection causing approximately 600 deaths annually.
