By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com
January 21, 2009
Add peanut butter health food bars to the growing list of products recalled in the nationwide salmonella outbreak. Clif Bar & Company on Sunday recalled its CLIF(R) and LUNA(R) branded bars that contain peanut butter because the products may be tainted with salmonella.
The products contain peanut butter manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). That company is the focus of an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the recent salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 470 people in 43 states and may be linked to the deaths of six others.
Here are the products recalled by Clif Bar & Company:
• Clif Bar Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, BEST BY/SELL BY: 21JUN09 to 01OCT09, and 03NOV09 to 28NOV09 ;
• Clif Bar Crunchy Peanut Butter, BEST BY/SELL BY: 21JUN09 to 01OCT09, and 03NOV09 to 28NOV09;
• Clif Bar Peanut Toffee Buzz, BEST BY/SELL BY: only 13SEP09;
• ZBaR Peanut Butter, BEST BY/SELL BY: 07JUL09 to 05SEP09, and 12NOV09;
• Clif Builders Peanut Butter, BEST BY/SELL BY: 19JUL09 to 30SEP09, and 05NOV09 to 18NOV09;
• Luna Nutz over Chocolate, BEST BY/SELL BY: 29JUL09 to 03OCT09, 11NOV09 to 14NOV09;
• Luna Peanut Butter Cookie, BEST BY/SELL BY: 02OCT09 to 03OCT09, and 11NOV09 to 14NOV09;
• All Clif Mojo Bars, BEST BY/SELL BY: 30APR09 to 21JUN09
These products were sold in grocery, warehouse and other retail stores throughout the United States, the company said. No other CLIF or LUNA products or flavors are included in this recall.
"With an abundance of caution and given the FDA's ongoing investigation of PCA, we're doing all we can to ensure consumer safety and trust," said Gary Erickson, owner and founder of Clif Bar & Company.
Consumers who bought these recalled products should destroy them, but keep the "Best By/Sell By" code found on the back of the package. For more information about this action--or how to get a refund--customers can contact Clif Bar & Company at 1-800-CLIFBAR (1-800-254-3227) or visit its Web site.
Another health food company on Sunday also recalled some of its peanut butter products.
Abbott Nutrition recalled all sizes and quantities of the following products:
ZonePerfect Chocolate Peanut Butter bars;
ZonePerfect Peanut Toffee bars;
NutriPals Peanut Butter Chocolate nutrition bars.
The products contain peanut butter ingredients supplied by PCA. The company sold the health bars in the United States, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore in various packages and quantities.
Abbott Nutrition products sold in Canada, however, are not included in this action. The company said it has not received any reports of illnesses linked to its health bars.
"Abbott Nutrition tests every lot of finished ZonePerfect and NutriPals bars for salmonella," the company said in a written statement. "And no salmonella contamination has been detected."
Consumers who purchased these recalled items should destroy them. Customers in the United States who have questions about this action or would like to request a refund can contact Abbott Nutrition Consumer Relations at (800) 986-8884, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
In related action on Sunday, The Kroger Co. also recalled some of its Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream. The company said the peanut butter used in the ice cream was supplied by PCA and may be tainted with salmonella.
The ice cream included in this action are:
• Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in 48-ounce containers with a "Sell by" date of 9-13-2009 under the following UPC Code Number: 0001111054437;
• Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in 56-ounce containers with a "Sell by" date of 8-11-2009 under the following UPC Code Number: 0001111052816
The company said the ice cream was sold in City Market, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, and Smith's stores in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
It was not sold in Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., Jay C, Scott's, Owen's, Baker's, Gerbes, Hilander and Pay Less stores.
The company has not received any reports of illnesses linked to the recalled items. No other Kroger products are included in this action.
Customers who purchased the recalled ice cream should not eat it and return it to the store for a full refund.
Consumer who have additional questions about this action can the company at 1-800-632-6900 or visit its Web site.
The FDA has traced the strain of salmonella at the heart of the outbreak — salmonella typhimurium — to a plant owned by PCA in Georgia.
That plant makes a brand of peanut butter distributed in bulk to large institutions like nursing homes and schools. It also manufactures a peanut paste that is used in many cookies, crackers, cereals, and ice creams.
The FDA confirmed that samples of peanut butter from PCA's Georgia plant have tested positive for salmonella by laboratories in Minnesota and Connecticut.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections — especially in young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and/or abdominal pain.
