THINGS are not quite right in Neverland. A salmonella outbreak that has been growing since August and now has nearly 300 cases was recently linked to peanut butter, specifically the Peter Pan and Great Value brands made by ConAgra in their Georgia plant (noted by a product code on the lid beginning with "2111.") A salmonella outbreak isn't that strange. What is strange is its relation to peanut butter.
The type of salmonella most commonly linked with humans is Non-Typhoidal Salmonella. Another rarer form of salmonella is called Typhoidal Salmonella. The first is usually contracted by ingesting raw or undercooked eggs, or from animals such as chicken or cattle. The second can only be contracted through direct contact with the fecal matter of an infected person. Neither of these, I think, reside in peanut butter. So what is ConAgra putting into their stuff?
According to the Peter Pan ingredient label, the product contains roasted peanuts, sugar, vegetable oil and salt. No chicken, beef, eggs or milk. And I most certainly hope not feces.
Government scientists are still struggling to pinpoint the exact source of the outbreak, but according to www.nbc.com the first lawsuits against ConAgra Foods have already been filed.
In a Daily News Central article, officials from the plant speculated, "Because peanuts are usually heated to high, germ-killing temperatures during the manufacturing process...the contamination may have been caused by dirty jars or equipment." In plain English, people did not wash their hands after going to the bathroom.
In fact, the Soap and Detergent Association's latest survey found that 40 percent of American workers wash their hands neither often enough nor thoroughly enough. In addition, the survey found that, 58 percent of employers don't do anything to encourage hand washing in the workplace, which could account for the unclean machinery.
While the FDA has no concrete proof to back up this theory yet, this makes a scary thought for the massive number of people who consume peanut butter every day. A cheap and excellent source of protein, peanut butter is a classic favorite with University students, especially those without a meal plan who often have to rely on quick and easy cooking options.
Already, the salmonella outbreak has affected a couple of University students."This guy I know got salmonella from peanut butter. He's on pills," says first-year student Stacia Warzinski.
"I threw out my peanut butter but my roommate wants to get a refund," adds Kirsten Schofield, also a first-year student in the CLAS.
ConAgra Foods recommends customers with questions give them a call. Their audio recording says, "If you have this product, please discard it but save your product lid for a full refund."
However, while your local grocery store might provide said refund, this is perhaps the last thing you should do.
"If you have become ill or sick in some manner, do not dispose of the product," recommends attorney Lee Christie on WishTV.com. "If the peanut butter is the source of serious illness, a class action suit could be filed on behalf of victims."
Seattle-based attorney William Marler, for example, whose firm handles many cases of food-borne illness, said Friday that 450 people had contacted his law firm this week seeking law suits against the company.
ConAgra Foods and the FDA had better start working to find exactly what caused the bacteria to infect the peanut butter, because more cases are cropping up every day. If it is because of dirty equipment, however, and not something out of their control, they could be facing serious consequences.
Andrea Arango's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at aarrango@cavalierdaily.com.
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