State: Use caution when eating peanut products

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The New Mexico Environment Department and the state Department of Health urge New Mexicans to continue to follow national advice about the consumption of peanut butter products.

Those recommendations are the result of a multistate outbreak investigation of more than 500 human infections of salmonella serotype typhimurium. No cases have been identified in New Mexico.

All peanuts and peanut products produced by Peanut Corporation of America in Blakely, Ga., have been recalled.

Although peanut butter and peanut butter paste were not sold directly to consumers, they were distributed nationwide and used as an ingredient in many products, including cookies, crackers, cereal, candy, ice cream, pet treats, and other foods.

National brands of jar peanut butter sold in grocery stores have not been implicated in this outbreak. The state is awaiting FDA’s final determination on which products have been recalled as a result of the outbreak.

More than 180 products produced by a variety of companies may have been made with the whole and/or processed peanut ingredients recalled by the Georgia company. Do not eat products that have been recalled and dispose of them in a manner that prevents others from eating them.

Some pet foods and pet treats also may contain peanut butter, including dog biscuits and bird food. If you have a recalled pet product in your household, do not feed it to your pet or other animals. Dogs and cats that become ill from Salmonella generally will have diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus and may also have a fever.

Information: FDA Web site at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html
NMED Web site at:http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/fod/Food_Program/
Those without Internet access may call 1-800-CDC-INFO.