Never-Never Land Source of Deadly Bacteria

Put the knife down, and back away from the peanut butter.

It appears that salmonella present in jars of Peter Pan and Great Value (read: Walmart) peanut butter has caused nearly three hundred cases of salmonella across the country, leading to a rash of hospitalizations. The majority of reported infections have been in New York, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. So far, no deaths have been tied to this outbreak. The FDA is currently warning customers to avoid jars of Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter with product codes which begin with the number "2111."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, this is quite possibly the first salmonella outbreak that can be tied to peanut butter, at least in the United States. Although how the peanut butter became contaminated is unclear, ConAgra, the Georgia-based company that manufactures both brands of peanut butter, has recalled all identified jars of peanut butter and will be shutting down its facility until they can identify the source of the contamination.

For those who are not aware, salmonella is a form of bacteria known to cause, among other things, food-borne illness. It's generally associated with poultry and eggs, but has been traced to a number of other causes. According to Wikipedia:

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal cramps 6 to 72 hours after infection. In most cases, the illness usually lasts 3 to 7 days—most affected persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient becomes dangerously dehydrated and must be taken to a hospital. At the hospital, the patients will receive intravenous fluids to treat their dehydration and medications may be given to provide symptomatic relief, like fever reduction. In severe cases, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. Some people afflicted with Salmonellosis later experience reactive arthritis, which can have long-lasting, disabling effects.

In short, stay away from Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. If you have eaten peanut butter recently and are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, seek medical help immediately.

See Also:
Sci-Tech Today: Salmonella Linked to Peanut Butter Brands
Reuters: ConAgra Recalls Peanut Butter on Salmonella Chance
Associated Press, via Philly.com: Salmonella Linked to Peanut Butter
Wikipedia: Salmonellosis
Wikipedia: Salmonella

Image via WHDH-TV.