Peanut Products Recall
January – April 2009
LeeAnne Jackson, Ph.D.
Health Science Policy Advisor
Office of Food Defense, Communication, and
Emergency Response
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
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Background
Initial reports of a Salmonella outbreak in
September 2008
– CDC, FDA, State and local public health officials
initially identified illnesses in 12 states which
ultimately expanded to 46 states.
FDA, CDC, state and local public health officials
identified peanut butter and other products
manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America
as the source of contamination in January 2009.
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Background
Peanut products manufactured by the Peanut
Corporation of America for institutional use and for
ingredients in other products such as snacks were
contaminated with Salmonella.
Nearly 700 people had been infected with Salmonella
Typhimurium in 46 states by March 15 – with the
bacterial infection contributing to nine deaths from
peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of
America’s processing facility in Blakely, GA and
Plainview, TX.
Read more at:
http://www.foodpolicy.rutgers.edu/news.asp?id=24
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Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak
Peanut Butter and Peanut Containing Products
Content Source: National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases
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Timeline – Salmonella
Typhimurium investigation
March 23, 2009 – FDA asked Irvington, N.J.-based
Westco Fruit and Nut Co., Inc. (Westco/Westcott) to
voluntarily recall all of its products containing peanuts
from PCA because of the contamination threat.
Westco/Westcott refused.
April 8, 2009 - the FDA served Westco/Westcott with an
inspection warrant in an attempt to gain access to the
company’s distribution records.
April 27, 2009 - at the request of the FDA, U.S.
Marshals seized $34,500 worth of PCA peanuts and
products containing PCA peanuts at Westco/Westcott
because of possible Salmonella contamination.
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FDA Calls to Industry
Outreach to affected industries was
initiated on January 12, 2009
– 42 Food/Feed industry trade groups
– 6 Restaurant/convenience store trade groups
– 2 Dietary supplement trade groups
– 13 Institutional/healthcare/food bank groups
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Industry Conference Calls
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
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Jan. 12, 2009
Jan. 15, 2009
Jan. 17, 2009
Jan. 21, 2009
February 13, 2009
February 26, 2009
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MediaTeleconferences
FDA/CDC Joint Media Teleconferences
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January 16, 2009
January 17, 2009
January 21, 2009
January 27, 2009
January 28, 2009
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Listserv Updates
CFSAN Provided 5 Email Updates to its Listserv
 Jan. 13, 2009
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Jan. 15, 2009
Jan. 16, 2009
Jan. 17, 2009
Jan. 18, 2009
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FDA Outreach to Consumers
Outreach to the affected consumer groups
was initiated on Jan. 16, 2009
 Conference call updates
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• Jan. 16, 2009
Listen-only invite to media calls
• Jan. 21, 2009
Email updates
• Jan. 16, 2009
• Jan. 18, 2009
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Federal-State Relations
50-State Calls - Weekly
All information faxed and e-mailed to state, local,
county-level entities
Information relayed to the National Public Health
Information Coalition members for their
distribution
Information relayed to Communication Officers
of State Departments of Agriculture for their
distribution.
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