As everyone hopefully knows by now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported a large, nationwide outbreak of salmonella that is linked to peanut butter and peanut paste that was produced by the Peanut Corporation of America.
So far, 529 people have been affected by the outbreak in 43 states.
The FDA also reports that half of the affected people with salmonella were under 16 years old and 21% were under 5 years old, which makes this outbreak very important for parents to keep up on.
In addition to recognizing salmonella symptoms, which can include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, fever, and abdominal cramps, the FDA and CDC recommend that everyone avoid eating all products that have been recalled because of this outbreak. This includes certain brands of peanut butter, and many other products made with peanuts or peanut paste, including cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream.
Parents will be relieved that national brands of peanut butter, such as Jif and Peter Pan, were not recalled. Also, Girl Scout cookies weren't recalled.
Since so many products have been recalled, before eating any peanut containing products in your home, it is best to check this list of the Peanut Butter Product Recalls:
Again, be sure to check all of your peanut containing products and see if your pediatrician if you think your child ate something that was recalled and has developed symptoms of salmonella.
Important disclaimer: The information on keepkidshealthy.com is for educational purposes only and should not be considered to bemedical advice. It is not meant to replace the advice of the physician who cares for your child. All medical advice and information should be considered to be incomplete without a physical exam, which is not possible without a visit to your doctor.
