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Tainted PB sickens 17 in Va.

Virginia is among 39 states reporting cases of salmonella poisoning because of tainted peanut butter

Date published: 2/17/2007

BY JIM HALL

Seventeen Virginia residents have contracted salmonella poisoning because of tainted peanut butter, according to state officials.

The Virginia Department of Health reported yesterday that people from all regions of the state have been affected by bacteria-laden jars of Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter.

All of the cases were confirmed by lab testing. None is from the Fredericksburg area.

The statewide count included seven cases in the southwest, one in the northwest, three in the east and six in the central region.

Affected individuals included males and females, ages 10 months to 66 years. No deaths have been associated with the outbreak, according to the Health Department.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week issued a warning about Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter with a "2111" product code on the lid. ConAgra Foods makes both brands at its Sylvester, Ga., plant.

The outbreak began with a few cases in August and has grown since then, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By Thursday afternoon, the CDC had counted 290 infected persons in 39 states.

Officials are not sure how the product became contaminated.

Local peanut-butter eaters started calling the Rappahannock Area Health District office Thursday morning soon after the FDA's warning.

"Peanut butter is a beloved item. It's in every household," said Lucy Caldwell, a Health Department spokeswoman.

Elizabeth Lowery, health district epidemiologist, said yesterday that she has talked with perhaps six people who were concerned because they had eaten the tainted product.

A story in The Free Lance-Star yesterday produced a similar spate of calls and e-mails to the newspaper office.

One reader said his 81-year-old mother was having problems last week and thought at first it was the flu. The family later discovered that she had eaten a sandwich with peanut butter from the affected lot.

"She was sick for about four days but is much better now," said the man, in an e-mail.

Lowery said she has been telling callers to seek medical help if they develop symptoms of salmonellosis. These include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.

Symptoms usually appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure and can last four to seven days.

WHAT IS SALMONELLOSIS? Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps and usually appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure. They can last four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have severe illness. The bacteria is confirmed with lab testing of a stool sample.

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Date published: 2/17/2007