The CDC's Peanut Butter Recall Blog

 

 

# 2728

 

 

No, this isn't about bird flu.  But it is important, nonetheless.

 

As of January 25th, 2009  more than 500 cases of Salmonella poisoning have been reported to the CDC, coming from 43 states.  As many as 8 deaths may be related to this outbreak.

 

This Salmonella contamination has been traced to a Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) facility in Blakely, Ga.  Potentially contaminated peanut butter has been sold to many other food manufacturers, resulting in a recall of more than 400 food products.

 

Salmonella poisoning, called Salmonellosis, is described by the CDC as follows:

 

What is salmonellosis?

 

Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.

The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.

In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

 

Some people who have followed the HHS's and FEMA's advice to stockpile a couple of weeks worth of food may have peanut butter products in their stash, and need to check carefully to make sure they aren't part of the recall list.

 

 

The CDC and HHS along the the FDA have set up a special blog to keep the public informed of the latest recall information regarding this outbreak.

 

Social media, like blogs, videos, podcasts, and twitter micro-blogging are being used increasingly by government agencies to get the word out on a variety of important topics.

 

Case in point, I learned about this website from my Twitter feed

 

A hat tip to @AndrewPWilson  on Twitter, one of the team members working on social media at the HHS for this update. 

 

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Links

FDA Peanut Butter Recall Update

Searchable Product Recall List

CDC Salmonella Outbreak Update

HHS Homepage

FDA Homepage

CDCHomepage

 

Today, there is a message from the Acting Director of the CDC, Dr. Richard E. Besser regarding the ongoing investigation.

 

 

Yesterday, there were two blog entries: Ingredient Driven Outbreaks: The Inside is Bigger than the Outside   and:

 

 

Peanut Butter Product Recalls Expanded

Based on CDC and FDA's ongoing investigation of the Salmonella outbreak, consumers are advised:

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