Salmonella Recalls: Don't be Afraid, be Informed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration advise consumers not to eat peanut products made with peanut butter or peanut paste made at the Peanut Corporation of America facility in Blakely, Ga. More than 1,300 products ranging from cookies and ice cream to trail mix and pet food have been recalled due to a nation-wide salmonella outbreak connected to the facility.

Elizabeth Andress, food safety specialist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, offers advice on how to handle the outbreak:

What should I do with peanut products in my cabinets?

Hold on to unexpired foods not on the recall list until you know more. If you don’t see a product on the recall list you can double check by visiting the company’s Web site or calling customer service. Many companies have disclosure statements on the Web letting consumers know if they have not purchased products from Peanut Corporation of America. If you have some products that don’t show up on the recall list, and manufacturer Web sites don’t reveal where the nuts came from, hang on to them until we learn more. However, if you have a family with children who may grab snacks without asking, you may have to make different choices about whether to keep them in cabinets.

Where can I find a list of recalls?

Check with the FDA’s information line (888-723-3366) or CDC’s consumer information hotline (800-232-4636) for questions. Or go online for a complete list of all products affected: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm.

What should I do with recalled products?

Take products back to the store where you purchased them. Most stores are offering refunds. Some recalled products, like those sold as fundraisers, can’t be returned to stores. You can also contact the manufacturer and request a refund. Unlike a salmonella scare from chicken and eggs, the peanut-related products involved in the recall cannot be heated to kill the bacteria. So, your only real protection is to discard the item in question. Be sure to wash your hands after touching a contaminated product.

What is safe?

All major brands of peanut butter sold in consumer packages are not affected. But, some in-store, grind-your-own peanut butter supplies may be tainted. If eating out, ask your waiter or chef if certain foods contain peanuts and learn the source of those nuts. If they can’t tell you, you may want to make another choice. The American Peanut Council has a list of safe products on their Web site at peanutsusa.com. According to the list, M&Ms, Reese’s, Snickers, Girl Scout Cookies and Lance crackers are all safe to eat, as well as many other products.

Should I check all food labels?

Yes. Read product labels for peanut ingredients. Some common foods that contain peanuts and peanut products are baked goods such as cakes, cookies and pie and pastry crusts; breakfast cereals, including granolas; candy, especially chocolates and nougat; chili and pasta sauces; crackers; ethnic cuisines, especially African, Chinese, Thai and Mexican; ice creams and frozen yogurts; trail mix; and seasoning mixes.

What is salmonella? Salmonella bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. Foods may also become contaminated by the hands of an infected person who does not wash their hands after using the bathroom. Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal.

What are symptoms of salmonella posioning? If you think you’ve gotten sick from eating a contaminated product, contact your doctor. You will usually experience vomiting, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after exposure. This can last about 4 to 7 days without treatment other than fluids to combat dehydration. Infants, elderly individuals and people with compromised immune systems are more likely to suffer severe infections that can spread from intestines into the blood stream and can lead to death.

How do I treat salmonella poisoning?

Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated. People with severe diarrhea may require rehydration with intravenous fluids. People who have salmonellosis should not prepare food or pour water for others until the diarrhea has cleared up.

Are there long-term consequences to a salmonella infection?

Persons with diarrhea usually recover completely, although it may be several months before their bowel habits are entirely normal. A small number of people with salmonella develop pain in their joints, irritation of the eyes and painful urination. This is called Reiter's syndrome. It can last for months or years, and can lead to chronic arthritis, which is difficult to treat. Antibiotic treatment does not make a difference in whether the person develops arthritis.

By April Sorrow
University of Georgia

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Have a Happy Lead-Free Holiday

We often hear reports about lead in toys, electrical cords, holiday lights and artificial Christmas trees this time of year. Lead poisoning is very dangerous. Make every attempt to reduce exposure to lead hazards for you and your family.

Lead poisoning damages the brain and central nervous system, which can lead to learning disabilities, seizures or even death. Children are at greatest risk of exposure because they’re more likely to touch things and then put their contaminated hands into their mouths.

Lead may be found in the paint on some imported toys or in some plastics. Using lead in house paint, children’s products, dishes and cookware was banned in the United States in 1978. Lead is still used in other countries and may be found on some imported toys.

Lead may also be in certain plastics where it is used to soften it and make it more flexible. As the plastic is exposed to sunlight, air or detergents, the bond between the lead and plastics breaks down and forms harmful dust.

If you think your child has been exposed to a toy containing lead, remove the toy immediately and ask your healthcare provider about getting your child tested for lead. There will be no visible symptoms of lead poisoning. For information on toy recalls, go to www.cpsc.gov or call (800) 638-2772.

Manufacturers may use lead as part of the polyvinyl chloride insulation around the wiring on strings of lights or the branches of artificial trees. Lead helps stabilize PVC so it doesn’t crack or crumble with age. It also acts as a fire retardant.

To reduce the lead dangers in your home during the holidays, wash your hands after hanging lights and decorations. If you own an older artificial tree and lights, replace them. When shopping for a new tree and lights, be sure to read the warning labels to determine if the products contain lead.

To further reduce your family’s exposure to lead:

Place a doormat by all outside doors and remove shoes outside to prevent tracking in lead dust.
Keep areas where children play clean and dust-free.
Leave lead-based paint undisturbed if it is in good condition.
Use lead-safe practices when removing paint, or hire a professional.
Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and iron.
While there are many different sources of lead, the primary source of lead poisoning in children is still lead-based paint. There are do-it-yourself lead testing kits available, however, they aren’t very reliable and don’t indicate how much lead is present.

Contact your local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1 for more information on how to safely remove lead from your home.

By Pamela Turner
University of Georgia

Pamela Turner is an Extension housing specialist with the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

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FDA Advises Against Consumption of American Lobster (Maine Lobster) Tomalley

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers to avoid eating tomalley in American Lobster (Maine Lobster), regardless of where the lobster was harvested, because of potential contamination with dangerous levels of the toxins that cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).

American lobster, also known as Maine lobster, are harvested from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Northeastern Canada to South Carolina, inclusive.

The FDA advisory applies only to tomalley, the soft, green substance found in the body cavity of the lobster that functions as the liver and pancreas. Cooking does not eliminate the PSP toxins. However, studies have shown that, even when high levels of PSP toxins are present in lobster tomalley, lobster meat itself is typically unaffected.

Symptoms of PSP include tingling and/or numbness of the mouth, face or neck; muscle weakness; headache; and nausea. In extreme cases, when large amounts of the toxin are consumed, these symptoms can lead to respiratory failure and death. Symptoms usually occur within two hours of exposure to the toxin. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention.

PSP toxins normally occur from time to time in clams and other shellfish and are carefully monitored by state regulatory authorities. The FDA learned of this problem after routine sampling conducted by regulatory authorities in Maine and New Hampshire found dangerous levels of the toxins in lobster tomalley. Some shellfish beds have been closed in recent months due to elevated levels of PSP toxins.

Lobster tomalley normally does not contain dangerous levels of PSP toxins. The current high levels of PSP toxins likely are associated with an ongoing red tide episode in northern New England and eastern Canada. Authorities in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as well as in Canada, have issued advisories cautioning against eating tomalley.