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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Salmonella Outbreak:475 Persons Infected...

    as of Sunday,January 18,2009.

   CDC

As of 9PM EDT, Sunday, January 18, 2009, 475 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 43 states and Canada.

Preliminary analysis of data received as of 9PM, Sunday, January 18, reveals an association with consumption of any pre-packaged peanut butter crackers, and specifically with Austin and Keebler peanut butter crackers. Austin and Keebler peanut butter crackers are produced by Kellogg Company. On January 14, 2009, Kellogg Company put a precautionary hold on these peanut butter crackers, and on January 16 recalled these products. Other peanut butter containing products produced by a variety of companies may have been made with the ingredients recalled by PCA. CDC and state health departments continue to investigate the association of other brands and foods that contain peanut butter with illness.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health Laboratory and the Georgia Department of Agriculture independently isolated Salmonella from unopened 5-pound containers of King Nut brand peanut butter. Further tests are pending to determine if this Salmonella is the outbreak strain.

Clusters of infections in several states have been reported in schools and other institutions, such as long-term care facilities and hospitals. King Nut is the only brand of peanut butter used in those facilities for which we have information.

The list of peanut butter and peanut paste containing products that may be affected is still being determined and is incomplete at this time. However, the list of currently recalled products can be found on the FDA website*.

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