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PCA Shuts Second Peanut Plant In Salmonella Scare

Texas plant closed after tests find possible contamination

February 11, 2009

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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.

Consumers respond

Here are verbatim reports from consumers who've encountered problems with peanut butter-based foods in 2009:

elizabeth of Orange Park, FL August 15, 2009

I ate a reeses peanut at 9:00 on Wednesday night, I woke up at about 7:00 am with diarrhea, it is now Saturday and the diarrhea has progressively gotten worse. The reese peanut butter cup is the only thing I ate that was different from my family who have had no symptoms.

Michael of Harrisburg, PA April 2, 2009

i went to the er with severe belly pain and nausea. spent 7 hours there. givin meds to ease pain. that monday after i found nutty butty. i had eaten 4 out of the 6 that week were recalled due to saminella. i dont know if im entitled to anything but i would like to know

medical bills and im still in pain

Carole of Broken Arrow, OK April 1, 2009

I have been giving my 9 1/2 year old dachshund his cushings tablet along with a small amount (probably 1/2 teaspoon or less) of Great Value peanut butter for quite some time. My dog takes cushings meds every Wed. am and Wed. pm. This is the only time he eats peanut butter. On Friday, March 27th he became very ill.... with vomiting and diarrhea. He continued excessive diarrhea throughout the weekend.

I called my vet Sat. morning. Tulsa had a snow blizzard on Fri. night/Sat. and I was not able to take Switzer to the vet. The vet advised me to give him 1/4 immodium tab in the am and pm. My dog continuted vomiting and passing loose stools as well as blood. On Monday morning I took him into see the vet and after a Fecal Parasite Exam, Antibiotic Inj., and Metronidazole, and Prostora Max prescriptions brought him home. The vet thinks it was something Switzer ate. My dog is on a strict diet (natural & complete Prairie Nature's Variety frozen raw balanced with Prairie Nature's dry kibble, and consequently narrowed the culprit (that caused his illness) to the peanut butter.

The consequences have been vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stools, weakness, lethargy,along with a vet bill of 108.94. Switzer's diarrhea/vomiting improved after the Injection and meds. Switzer is continuing to take the Metronidazole 250 mg along with the Prostora Max. He is showing rapid improvement.

Kwame of Upper Marlboro, MD February 23, 2009

I had what I thought was a terrible case of, but then I heard about the peanut/salmonella issue and thought that might've had something to do with it. I checked the last peanut product I ate, which was an Atkins Advantage Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar. I looked on the label but it was listed as being produced in Canada and figured it might have been something else. Weeks later I just now get an email from drugstore.com saying there's been a medalert issued for the bar from January 2007 to present in relation to the recent outbreak.

The sickness lasted for a few days

Brandi of Temperance, MI February 23, 2009

I ate about 3/4 cup of the ice cream and about 5-6 hr later had severe abd. cramping with nausea and later vomiting and diarrhea.

Kathryn of Portland, OR February 19, 2009

I ate one peanut butter cup, I also ate 3 of the Betty Crocker cookies. I woke up at 2AM with severe stomach cramps and have had the cramps off and on since then. It is now ll:45Am. Can not be certain which product or even if it was caused by either one, but the cramps were severe. No diarhea or fever. Just feeling off.

I have not felt the need to call the Dr. and even tho I am 76 years old I don't think I am, or will become seriously ill. Hope I am right. Just wanted to alert someone of the possiblity of a problem with on or the other of these products.

Nicole of Raleigh, NC February 11, 2009

I consumed Austin Crackers and Peanut Butter and Special K bars before the Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak. I was pregnant and had a miscarriage on 01/15/2009, I am wondering if I had a miscarriage due to the Salmonella Outbreak. Should I be involved in the class action lawsuit. I had to have surgery due to my miscarriage.

I had a miscarraige and the emotional stress in indescribable. I will be suffering from this for a long time. This child would have been the first child for my husband and I together.

Charles of Wesley Chapel, FL February 7, 2009

i ate a nestle triple threat power peanut butter one. An later had severe vomitting for about 12 hrs. now next day have diaherra starting.

Charles of Wesley Chapel, FL February 7, 2009

i ate a nestle triple threat power peanut butter one. An later had severe vomitting for about 1 hrs. now next day have diaherra starting. what should i do

Kenneth of Beecher, IL February 5, 2009

I'm curious if any of this trouble with those companies that produce the peanut products sent to manufacturers who have made or going to for the Girl Scouts. Haven't heard anything at all about that. Thought maybe you could dig around and find out who makes the cookies for them. Thank You