State sees 12th case of peanut butter poisoning

-nashuatelegraph

02/09/2009- The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified a 12th case of Salmonella in a New Hampshire resident that is linked to the peanut butter recall. The patient became ill approximately January 19.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 575 cases of salmonella in the U.S. associated with contaminated peanut butter as part of this outbreak, 8 of whom have died. Forty-three states have reported cases.

• The Salmonella strain is Typhimurium. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified the source of the outbreak as contaminated peanut products manufactured in a plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). The peanut products were distributed to other

manufacturers to be used in a wide array of food products. The FDA has

created a searchable list of products and brands associated with the

expanded PCA recall, which dates back to January 1, 2007. This list is

available on the FDA website at

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm.

Peanut butter in jars is not a product of PCA and is not considered contaminated at this time.

“Though the outbreak seems to be decreasing,” said DHHS Director of Public Health Dr. José Montero, “we are still closely monitoring this ongoing situation and reduce the spread of illness. ”

“Until this unfortunate situation is over,” said Nicholas Toumpas, Commissioner of DHHS, “we urge residents to avoid eating any products that have been recalled or identified as potentially contaminated. This highlights the importance of good public health surveillance and a strong food protection program in New Hampshire.”

• For more information, refer to the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov, the FDA website at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html, or

the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/.

For questions about peanut butter safety or Salmonella, please call the NH DHHS Communicable Disease Control Section at 1-603-271-4496 or 1-800-852-3345 x4496.

If you or someone you love were diagnosed with Salmonella poisoning after eating peanut butter made by Peanut Corp. of America, or any product made with ingredients supplied by this company, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the peanut butter lawyers of Ennis & Ennis, P.A. today for a nationwide free legal consultation. Our experienced peanut butter recall attorneys can answer any questions you may have about the peanut butter Salmonella recall, King Nut recall, Peanut Corporation of America recall, and potential peanut butter recall lawsuits. Call toll free or fill out our free online case evaluation form on this page.