(Jan. 23, 2009)—The Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that the sources of the outbreak of recent illnesses caused by Salmonella Typhimurium are peanut butter and peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at its Blakely, Georgia processing plant.
According to the FDA, Peanut butter is sold by PCA in bulk containers ranging in size from five (5) to 1,700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. Neither of these products is sold directly to consumers.
Two local organizations that serve peanut butter-based products to the public quickly addressed the issue.
Officials from the St. Mary's County Public Schools say they have been assured that the peanut butter products they purchase from their distributor and serve in their cafeterias is safe. However, since the recall of peanut butter products continues to expand, officials say they will suspend serving peanut butter products until the current recall is complete.
Girl Scouts of the USA, via their Waldorf-based Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital, told us that neither licensed baker affiliated with Girl Scout Cookies ABC Interbake and Little Brownie Bakers source their peanut butter from the supplier involved in the current peanut butter warning.
For more information on the peanut butter recall, visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html .