Dillons, Wal-Mart recall peanut butter products

Sunday, February 18, 2007
Dillons, Wal-Mart recall peanut butter products
By LOIS DAVIDSON, Sentinel Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, February 17, 2007 9:05 AM CST





Most people have heard about the salmonella outbreaks resulting from eating peanut butter made from ConAgra Foods Inc., beginning with the code 2111 on Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter products. Already this outbreak has caused 300 individuals across the nation to become sick.

To prevent any more illnesses, Wal-Mart and Dillons have teamed up with ConAgra Foods Inc.

“We have had some of the 2111 peanut butter containers in our Dillons stores. As a precaution, we are removing all varieties of the Peter Pan peanut butter from our shelves,” said Sheila Lowrie, Dillons spokesperson.

Dillons carries ConAgra's Peter Pan peanut butter and it is not known yet when the Peter Pan peanut butter will return to the stores. Not allowed to discuss what the outbreak will do economically to Dillons, Lowrie stated that the store is following all FDA regulations.

Wal-Mart, on the other hand, carries both brands of peanut butter and has removed all Peter Pan and Great Value products from their stores.

“Food safety is always a top priority at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. We are working very closely with ConAgra to fully understand the details of this situation,” said Dan Fogleman, Wal-Mart spokesperson. “We are doing all we can at this time.”

According to Fogleman, Wal-Mart has placed an additional precautionary measure by installing a sales restriction on the products in question. A restriction notice will appear on the cashier's screen to prevent the products from leaving the store if they are inadvertently scanned.

Wal-Mart and Dillons will refund any Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter with a product code beginning with 2111. For a full refund, a person may take the entire container or just the lid to the store.

A person may also mail the lid, name and address to ConAgra Foods, P.O. Box 57078, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7078. For more information call 866-344-6970.



If a person has become sick and has eaten peanut butter in the past three days, save the product until the illness has been diagnosed. More information is at www.conagrafoods.com .

According to the International Food Information Council, symptoms of salmonella includes nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, headache and chills.

To avoid possible bacteria contamination, the IFIC states to sanitize often, cook foods to proper temperatures, refrigerate properly and to avoid cross contact, especially with raw meats and vegetables.



Associated foods with salmonella poisoning include: raw or undercooked meats, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products, shrimp, salad dressings, noncommercial sauces, cream-filled deserts, and toppings made from raw eggs, cocoa, chocolate and alfalfa sprouts.

For information on ways to prevent a salmonella outbreak in the home, visit www.ific.org .

A nursing supervisor at Memorial Hospital in McPherson, said that no one in McPherson has come in contact with the peanut butter salmonella outbreak bacteria.



He said that whoever begins to have the salmonella symptoms should see their physician.












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