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Salmonella Outbreak May Have Contributed to 3 Deaths

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

                                                Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Update

Health investigators in Minnesota have confirmed that Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria found in a five-pound tub of King Nut creamy peanut butter genetically matches the strains of Salmonella associated with an outbreak of 410 illnesses in 43 states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said infections from the Salmonella may have contributed to three deaths.

The King Nut product is not known to be sold in retail stores and the CDC said Monday that common brands of peanut butter sold in grocery stores do not appear to be associated with the outbreak.

The King Nut brand is distributed by Ohio-based King Nut Companies to food service accounts such as schools, hospitals, commercial kitchens and long-term care facilities. On Saturday, King Nut's president and CEO announced a voluntary peanut butter recall of all King Nut and Parnell's Pride labels that it sells. Both products are manufactured by Virginia-based Peanut Corporation of America.

The Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health said Monday in a press release that they conducted microbiological tests over the weekend to verify the connection that they tentatively drew late last week. The open container of peanut butter that tested positive for Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium came from a  long-term care facility associated with one of Minnesota's 30 confirmed outbreak illnesses, they said.

One patient, a woman in her 70s who had multiple health conditions, died with the disease, a Minnesota Department of Health spokesman has said. (Minnesota Salmonella wrongful death information).

The CDC said it is still investigating the outbreak, but it said  Monday for the first time that preliminary analysis of an epidemiologic study by CDC and public health officials in "multiple'' states suggested peanut butter as the likely source. The CDC cited Minnesota's focus on the King Nut brand. It also said clusters of infections in several states have been reported in schools, long-term care facilities, hospitals and other institutions where King Nut was the only brand of peanut butter in use.

                                                         Advice to Consumers

The CDC is giving the following advice to consumers: "Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers.''

In addition, if you have been sickened by this outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium, you may be entitled to compensation (King Nut Peanut Butter Lawsuit.) 

According to the latest breakdown of known cases from the CDC, 410 people have been sickened in 43 states. The top four states are California with 55 cases, Ohio with 53, Massachusetts with 40 and Minnesota with 30.

 Among 388 persons with dates available, illness began between Sept. 15, 2008, and Jan. 7, 2009, with most illnesses beginning after Oct. 1. Patients range in age from less than 1 to 98 years; 48 percent are female and 18 percent have been hospitalized.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on January 12, 2009 (boomark / email).