Peter Pan And The Salmonella Outbreak

Days after its Peter Pan peanut butter and its generic counterpart, Great Value, distributed at Wal-Mart stores, was linked to a widespread salmonella outbreak, food giant ConAgra has initiated a voluntary recall.

The company says it is recalling recalled Peter Pan peanut butter jars and Great Value jars with the number 2111 printed on the lid in response to the epidemic.

Previously, the Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to discard the jars of the two brands of peanut butter purchased since March 2006. Hundreds of people have reportedly been sickened by the tainted product.

The FDA says the recalled peanut butter is responsible for salmonella cases starting in August 2006 in at least 39 states. The peanut butter recall notice advises customers who have the peanut butter to discard the product, because it may lead to food poisoning type symptoms due to salmonella.

ConAgra Foods Inc., the Omaha, Nebraska based company behind last week's nationwide recall of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter, said the episode will cost it up to $60 million.

As word of the recall spreads throughout the country, and reports arise of people who think they have may contracted salmonella bacteria through certain containers of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter, sympathy for ConAgra's financial problems are coming in the form of law suites from plaintiffs.

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02/20/07 - 5:30 p.m. Layton mother fears her child may have eaten contaminated peanut butter



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Massive Peanut Butter Recall
The Centers for Disease Control is investigating the detection of salmonella in two brands of peanut butter, sold in 39 states. Hundreds have become sick and health officials are worried there might be more bad peanut butter on store shelves. (Feb. 15)