The Pacer

Issue date: 2/27/07 Section: Campus News

A childhood favorite has now become a topic of concern for people across the country with the confirmation of Salmonella being present in Great Value and Peter Pan brands of peanut butter.

The ConAgra plant in Sylvester, Ga., is the only peanut butter-producing plant for the company and is currently being tested by federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration to determine the root cause for the peanut butter contamination.
According to the CDC, at least 329 people have been sickened by this Salmonella outbreak from 41 states. Some people sickened displayed symptoms from as far back as August of 2006.

"Symptoms of infection include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping/discomfort, fever and blood in stools that are usually watery," said Shannon Deal, director of Student Health.

Salmonella is a bacterium that is normally associated with the waste material of poultry and livestock that infects approximately 40,000 people in the United States with about 600 people dying from this infection, according to a report by CNN. The consumption of raw or under-cooked meat or eggs are the usual culprits for Salmonella infection in humans.

"Water is a potential source for contamination [of Salmonella]. People need to trust their water source before consuming water. Also, hand washing is important to reduce the risk of infection," said Deal.

The highest numbers of infections reported were in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri, according to the CDC.

Previously, Australia had the only other reported case of Salmonella in peanut butter. In that incident, it was determined that the unsanitary conditions of the plant were the root cause for the contamination, according to CNN.

The FDA has said that the amount of peanut butter being returned in the voluntary recall is "high" and that consumers should pay attention to the serial numbers beginning with "2111" on the suspected jars.

On the UTM campus and surrounding areas, there have not been any confirmed or reported sicknesses due to the contaminated peanut butter. One student, who asked to remain anonymous, believes she was infected whenever she consumed peanut butter with others who have been sick in Illinois; however, she was never told of her being infected by doctors and doesn't believe she was tested for the infection.

"I don't think they took me seriously because it takes about 10 days for the virus to get out of your system. I had major cramping and nausea and was given antibiotics and sent home," said the student.

One important thing to consider, according to Deal, is that there is a stomach virus going around the campus that shares similar symptoms to those of Salmonella infections as do "common viruses." Anyone believing that they are infected with Salmonella, either from the suspected peanut butter or other foods, as well as sharing symptoms that are stomach-flu in nature, should see Deal at Student Health.

The Pacer contacted Save-A-Lot, E.W. James & Sons and Wal-Mart to get estimates for the amount of peanut butter removed from shelves or returned to the stores but the figures were unavailable at press time.

Anyone having the suspected peanut butter with the "2111" product code is advised to return the jar, used or unopened, to the store of purchase for a full refund, according to a statement issued by ConAgra foods.

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