People urged to avoid peanut butter products

WASHINGTON – Federal health authorities on Saturday urged consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods that contain peanut butter until authorities can learn more about a deadly outbreak of salmonella contamination.

Most peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets appears to be safe, said Stephen Sundlof, head of the Food and Drug Administration's food safety center.

"As of now, there is no indication that the major national name-brand jars of peanut butter sold in retails stores are linked to the recall," Sundlof told reporters in a conference call.

Officials are focusing on peanut paste, as well as peanut butter, produced at a Blakely, Ga., facility owned by Peanut Corp. of America. Its peanut butter is not sold directly to consumers but distributed to institutions and food companies. But the peanut paste, made from roasted peanuts, is an ingredient in cookies, cakes and other products that people buy in the supermarket.

"This is an excellent illustration of an ingredient-driven outbreak," said Dr. Robert Tauxe, who oversees foodborne illness investigations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So far, more than 470 people have gotten sick in 43 states, and at least 90 had to be hospitalized. At least six deaths are being blamed on the outbreak. Salmonella is a bacteria and the most common source of food poisoning in the U.S., causing diarrhea, cramping and fever.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090117/ap_on_re_us/salmonella_outbreak

[Rockerforlife]

Did you know peanuts are actually not nuts...they are peas...lugumes.

[sunshine585]

I was on a peanut plantation in South Carolina, and was surprised to see they grow in the ground like potatoes.

[Marcia2202]

Actually in many languages they are called 'earthnuts'

[GreatBird]

I actually did know that because it comes up in this story I've been writing.

[Rockerforlife]

I love Charlie Brown adventures.