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March 18, 2007

Peanut Butter Slow To Return Overseas

In the wake of the Great Value/Peter Pan peanut butter recall that's rocked the United States and hospitalized hundreds of patients with Salmonella, officials abroad aren't too eager to open their doors to Peter Pan, despite manufacturer ConAgra's insistence that newer jars of the peanut butter aren't tainted.

No Green Light For Peanut Butter's Return

In fact, in the Bahamas, officials are refusing to give the green light to restocking Peter Pan on supermarket shelves. "We have not released the peanut butter going back on the shelves for fear they may still want to sell the 2111 label and we want to make sure that that brand label is off and out of market circulation," said Minister of Local Government and Consumer Affairs V. Alfred Gray.

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March 17, 2007

Peanut Producer Meeting Attempts To Calm The Waters

They've been embroiled in the peanut butter recall scandal since it broke over a month ago. Now national peanut producers have gathered to discuss the future of peanut butter and the future of their industry.

Peanut producers gather for meeting

While peanut butter manufacturers insisted there's been no decrease in sales, National Peanut Board representative Lisa Agostoni noted other industry issues, such as a shrinking number of farmers and new concerns about fats and allergies. However, even in the face of the $60 million-plus Peter Pan recall that's caused a nationwide salmonella outbreak, the Peanut Board downplayed consumer concerns.

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March 14, 2007

They Just Keep Coming - Peter Pan Recall Extended

The peanut butter news just doesn't stop spreading over the country, and the latest bit of news is disheartening to consumers concerned about the Peter Pan peanut butter recall: manufacturer ConAgra has extended its recall by one entire year.

Peter Pan/Great Value peanut butter recall expanded to Oct. '04

The recall now includes all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter and toppings produced after October 2004. The recalled peanut butter is marked with serial number '2111' on peanut butter lids. The products have been linked to a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella, and the recall is thus far projected to cost ConAgra a cool $60 million.

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March 05, 2007

FDA Confirms Salmonella in ConAgra Peter Pan Plant

The FDA has confirmed the presence of the salmonella virus at ConAgra's Peter Pan peanut butter plant in Sylvester, Georgia. The updated inspection data indicates that the salmonella originated at the plant itself, though there is no information yet as to whether plant conditions were unsanitary or below federal standards.

FDA News Update on Peter Pan Recall

More information on the infected Peter Pan peanut butter plant will surely follow; in the meantime the FDA has issued warnings against peanut butter ice cream toppings in addition to the recalled jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter, which feature a '2111' serial number on the lid.

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March 01, 2007

Peanut Butter Recall Updated To Include Ice Cream Toppings

It's been weeks since the first announcement that Peter Pan peanut butter and Great Value peanut butter produced at ConAgra's Georgia peanut butter facility was linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak. Now, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending its warning to ice cream spreads containing the potentially tainted peanut butter.

FDA Update on Peanut Butter Recall

The update implicates bulk peanut butter that was shipped to ConAgra's facility in Humboldt, Tennessee. While the following brands are no longer being sold, they may still be sitting on customer's pantry shelves:

Sonic Brand Ready-To-Use Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb. 10.5 oz cans. Sonic outlets used the topping until 2/16/07, when the product was recalled. The topping was used in the following Sonic products:

  • Peanut Butter Shake
  • Peanut Butter Fudge Shake
  • Peanut Butter Sundae
  • Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae

Carvel Peanut Butter Topping in 6 lb. 10 oz. cans. Carvel used the topping until 2/16/07, when the product was recalled. The topping was used in the following Carvel ice cream products:

  • Chocolate Peanut Butter
  • Peanut Butter Treasure
  • Peanut Butter & Jelly
  • Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae Dasher
  • Any other customized products containing the Peanut Butter Topping, including peanut butter flavored ice cream in ice cream cakes

J. Hungerford Smith Peanut Butter Dessert Topping in 6 lb. 10 oz. cans: This topping may be used by retail and restaurant outlets throughout the United States but is not available for direct purchase by the public.

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