Peanut butter salmonella outbreak: what you should avoid

The newest Salmonella outbreak in the States has been linked to peanuts. So far, about 475 people have been infected in 43 States . Moreover, the infections may have contributed to 6 deaths.

The source of Salmonella has been traced to a peanut processing plant, Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), in Georgia. PCA doesn't sell its peanut butter or peanut paste to consumers but supplies ingredients to food manufacturers.

King Nut peanut butter distributed in certain states was found to be responsible for many of the reported illnesses and has been recalled. Most peanut butters in jars seem safe but the US government is advising consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream, crackers and other foods that contain peanut butter or peanut paste. Click here for FDA's most current list of recalled products.

Kellogg's has voluntarily placed a hold on 16 products that contain PCA peanut paste or peanut butter, including Austin and Keebler brand snack foods and Amos cookies. There has been no reported illnesses linked to Kellogg's products and, according to the company, none of these products were shipped to Canada.

Although there have been no illnesses in Canada linked to the growing salmonella outbreak in the US, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume certain products as they may contain PCA contaminated products.

These products include:

Hebert's Fully Loaded P.B. Crunch mini-bars produced Aug. 26. 2008 and Sept. 9, 2008.
Nature's Path Organic Optimum Energy Bar-Peanut Butter with an Oct. 1, 2009 expiry date.
Clif Bar Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch with a Sept. 7, 2009 expiry date.
Clif Bar Crunchy Peanut Butter with expiry dates between Sept. 6 and Sept. 11, 2009 and Nov. 13, 2009.
Clif Bar Peanut Toffee Buzz with an expiry date of Sept. 12, 2009.
Clif Builders Peanut Butter Protein Bar with expiry dates of June 20, 2009 and Aug. 20, 2009
Clif Bar Club Pack 18 Variety Pack with expiry dates of Sept. 8, 2009 and Nov. 3, 2009.
Lärabar Peanut Butter Cookie snack bars
Lärabar Peanut Butter Cookie Bite Size

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include high fever, severe headache, vomittting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Those with compromised immune systems, ie. the elderly and children, are at greater risk.

Update: The FDA has just confirmed that salmonella was found in a package of peanut butter sandwich crackers made by Kellogg's (Kellogg's Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter).