Testing Confirms Salmonella In Peanut Butter

Lee Coleman

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One week later after a recall of peanut butter by ConAgra Foods, the CDC said Thursday it has confirmed the presence of the dangerous germ Salmonella. According to a spokesman for the CDC jars from New York, Oklahoma, and Iowa have tested positive. Now comes the part of determining how the salmonella got in the jars. At least 329 people have fallen ill from 41 states since August 2006. The recall included jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter.

"Government and industry officials have said the contamination may have been caused by dirty jars or equipment. Peanuts are usually heated to high, germ-killing temperatures during the manufacturing process. The only known salmonella outbreak in peanut butter - in Australia during the mid-1990s - was blamed on unsanitary plant conditions.
ConAgra has said none of its previous routine testing of plant equipment and peanut butter has tested positive for salmonella. The Food and Drug Administration last inspected the plant in February 2005 and found no problems."