February 11, 2009
Peanut Corporation of America, the company at the heart of the spreading salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter, has closed a second plant, this one in Texas.
The Texas Department of State Health Services asked the company to close the Plainview, Texas plant after laboratory tests of sample products from the plant indicated the possible presence of Salmonella in some products. PCA discovered the problem and notified the Texas Department of State Health Services of the findings on Monday, the agency said.
DSHS officials said it does not appear that any of the implicated products peanut meal, granulated peanuts and dry roasted peanuts have reached consumers. The testing was done by a private lab under contract with PCA.
The peanut meal and granulated peanuts had not been shipped out of the Plainview facility. The dry roasted peanuts had been shipped to a distributor but were detained and recalled before further distribution.
Officials said it is not yet known if the Salmonella possibly found in the product testing is the same strain of the bacterium implicated in a 43-state outbreak of salmonellosis.
DSHS is developing specific criteria the company must meet before it can resume production and is not aware of any illnesses associated with products from the Plainview facility.
PCA owns three peanut processing plants, in Texas, Georgia and Virginia. The outbreak investigation has centered on the PCA facility in Blakely, Georgia.
The Centers for Disease Control said it is continuing its investigation and the Food and Drug Administration said more products containing peanut butter are being recalled. To date, eight deaths are linked to the outbreak while 600 others have reportedly been sickened in 44 states.
The FDA has a complete list of all products recalled in the salmonella outbreak on its Web site. Consumers can check that Web site daily to see if their favorite products are included in any recalls.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can cause more severe illnesses, including arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.
PCA's products are not sold directly to consumers. They are distributed to long-term care facilities, universities, food service industries, and private label food companies in the United States, Canada, Haiti, Korea, and Trinidad.
U.S. food makers, however, use the company's peanut butter and paste to make cookies, crackers, ice cream, energy bars, and other products.
Some pet food makers also use PCA products. That's why health officials have warned pet owners that salmonella can be transferred to humans who handle these products. Pet owners are advised to wash their hands after they come touch these pet treats.
Symptoms of salmonella infection in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets, however, may have a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.
None of the major brands of peanut butter sold on grocery stores shelves are included in any of the current salmonella-peanut butter recalls. The makers of Jif, Skippy, and Peanut Pan peanut butters continue to remind consumers that their products are safe to eat.
