State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell advises of extendend peanut recall

SACRAMENTO - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expanding a voluntary recall of peanut butter and peanut products that may be contaminated with the salmonella bacteria.

When the potential salmonella contamination was initially detected, Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) voluntarily recalled all peanuts and peanut products that it had sold since July 1, 2008 to institutional and industrial users for service in large institutions or for sale and further processing by other companies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that operates the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Summer Food Service, and Child and Adult Care Food Programs, confirmed at that time that no USDA commodity products were affected by that recall. Now the FDA reports that the PCA is voluntarily expanding the recall as a precaution to products sold since January 1, 2007, including five deliveries of peanut butter to California for use in the USDA commodities program. As a result, the USDA has asked the California Department of Education to notify its agencies of the recall.

            "I urge all food service personnel to refrain from serving any peanuts or commodity food that contains peanuts from the Peanut Corporation of America until a thorough investigation into the extent of the recall is completed," said O'Connell. "I am also asking all parents, volunteer groups, schools, and community agencies serving meals or snacks to check their cupboards and refrigerators to find and dispose of the peanut products involved in the recall."

            The commodity peanut butter that was sent to California was delivered in January 2008. As a result, the California Department of Education is working with its distribution centers and recipient agencies to locate and hold the peanut products pending further investigation.

The following is a list of entities distributing the recently recalled peanut commodities:

·         Pomona State Distribution Center

·         Gold Star Foods

·         ASR Foods

·         Integrated

·         20th Century Foods

For a detailed list of which agencies received the recalled peanut products, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/fd/iapeanut.asp

            PCA reports to the FDA that it is not aware of any complaints or reports of illness involving the expanded recall. The voluntary recall comes amid an FDA investigation into a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 people nationwide beginning in September, with the largest number of illnesses reported in November.

California's leading public health physician, Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), warned consumers not to eat or handle peanuts or peanut commodity products listed in this and prior recalls. Dr. Horton emphasized that peanut butter sold in retail stores is not linked to the outbreak.

"The salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems," said Dr. Horton. "Anyone who has a recalled product should immediately throw it away. If you have product you are unsure of, set it aside, and wait for more information to become available."

Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, which may be bloody; nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Consumers with these symptoms should consult their physician.

For a more detailed list of all the recalled peanut and peanut products, please visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html. For more information on the health aspects of the recall, please contact Al Lundeen or Ken August of the CDPH at 916-440-7259. Further guidance to schools and management bulletins will be posted at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/mgmb.asp when they become available