Thread: General Mills recalls 2 peanut butter-flavored products

Mon Jan 19, 2009

(Reuters) - General Mills Inc voluntarily recalled two varieties of peanut butter-flavored snack bars, saying peanut butter in the products was sourced from Peanut Corp of America and may be contaminated with salmonella.

U.S. health authorities told consumers on Saturday to avoid eating products that contain peanut butter until they can determine the scope of an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning that may have contributed to six deaths.

General Mills, which also makes Cheerios cereal and Yoplait yogurt, said the products recalled were Larabar Peanut Butter Cookie flavor snack bars and JamFrakas Peanut Butter Blisscrisp flavor snack bars.

A combined 15,000 cases of product were involved, but no illnesses have been reported in connection with either product, the company said in a statement.

No other types, varieties or flavors of Larabar or JamFrakas products are being recalled, the company said, adding that no other General Mills products were involved or impacted.

The company at the center of the peanut butter recall case, Peanut Corporation of America, had said that it had been informed by the Food and Drug Administration that some samples of its products had tested positive for a salmonella strain that may have originated in a Blakely, Georgia, peanut processing plant.

(Reporting by Tenzin Pema in Bangalore; Editing by Anil D'Silva)

http://www.reuters.com/article/domestic ... ews&rpc=76

FDA confirms salmonella in Kellogg's crackers
Midwestern grocer Meijer Inc. also recalling 2 types of crackers, ice cream
Video


Peanut butter recall list growing
Jan. 19: The FDA is continuing its investigation into the source of the salmonella contamination which has infected 474 people nationwide and may have contributed to six deaths. NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports.
Nightly News


Diet and fitness videos
Peanut butter recall list growing
Jan. 19: The FDA is continuing its investigation into the source of the salmonella contamination which has infected 474 people nationwide and may have contributed to six deaths. NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports.
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updated 3:55 p.m. ET, Mon., Jan. 19, 2009
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Kellogg Co. said Monday federal authorities have confirmed that salmonella was found in a single package of its peanut butter crackers, as a Midwestern grocer recalled some of its products because of the scare.

Kellogg had recalled 16 products last week because of the possibility of salmonella contamination.

On Monday, the company based in Battle Creek said that contamination was confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration in a single package of Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter.

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Food companies and retailers have been recalling products with peanut butter in them because of suspicion of contamination amid a salmonella outbreak that has killed at least six people and sickened more than 470 others in 43 states. At least 90 people have been hospitalized.

Also Monday, Midwestern grocer and retailer Meijer Inc. said it was recalling two types of crackers and two varieties of ice cream because of the possibility of salmonella contamination: Meijer brand Cheese and Peanut Butter and Toasty Peanut Butter sandwich crackers, and Peanut Butter and Jelly and Peanut Butter Cup ice cream.

It was not immediately clear how many packages of Kellogg crackers had been tested, if more tests were being made on other products or if some had already been found not have salmonella, Kellogg spokeswoman Kris Charles said. A spokesman for the FDA said the agency was not providing any new information Monday.

The government on Saturday had advised consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing peanut butter until health officials learn more about the contamination.

Officials said that most peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets appears to be safe.

Officials have been focusing on peanut paste and peanut butter made at Peanut Corp. of America’s plant in Blakely, Ga.

On Sunday, Peanut Corp. expanded its own recall to all peanut butter and peanut paste produced at the Blakely plant since July 1.

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The company’s peanut butter is not sold directly to consumers but it is distributed to institutions and food companies. The peanut paste, made from roasted peanuts, is an ingredient in cookies, cakes and other products sold to consumers.

Meijer, based in Grand Rapids, said in a news release Monday it was issuing its recall because makers of its products had announced possible contamination. The products are sold in Meijer stores and gas stations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

Kellogg recalled 7 million cases of food
The recall last week by Kellogg, the world’s largest cereal maker, affected products including Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies, Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers. Charles said the recall affected more than 7 million cases of its products.

Kellogg Chief Executive David Mackay said the company would evaluate its processes “to ensure we take necessary actions to reassure consumers and rebuild confidence in these products.â€