Hundreds Sick from Salmonella in Peanut Butter

How would salmonella get into peanut butter? One of two ways, and neither is the least bit appetizing.

January 12, 2009 at 9:32AM by Marion Nestle | comment

So this big outbreak of salmonella that has sickened 400 people throughout the country has finally been traced to...peanut butter.

Not just any old peanut butter, but the kind that is sold in huge containers to institutions.

How did salmonella get into peanut butter?

Either the production lines were washed with sewage-contaminated water or somebody’s hands were really dirty.

This is another example of the reason why we must, must, must do something to improve food safety oversight, starting with requiring all food producers — without exception — to use standard food safety procedures and to be subject to inspection to make sure they follow those procedures.

And King Nut, the maker of the peanut butter, has issued a recall.

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tags: food, usda, food safety, recall, FDA, king nut, Salmonella, peanut butter

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Marion Nestle

Noted author Marion Nestle is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She is the author of What to Eat.
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