Big day in the big city!

Happy happy day!  I found imported peanut butter that I could afford at the grocery store here in the city!  It makes a nice change from the local peanut butter, which I usually eat.  It's intended to be used as an ingredient for stew sauces, so it's just ground peanuts, no sugar, no salt.  On a cracker with some Nutella, though, it's not bad.

When I got to the city 2 weeks ago, I found imported peanut butter at $9 a small jar.  I just couldn't do it.  Last week I found some for $3 a jar, so I brought a few home to see if it tasted ok.  Yesterday I went back and bought them out.  I am now the proud owner of 8 jars of peanut butter.  Think it will last me 2 years, until I get home to get some more?   

Comments

[lor]

if not, we'll send you some...

[Jamie]

Not to scare you, but there was a recall in the U.S. on Peter Pan Peanut Butter causing salmonella, so be careful. Here is News Release

FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P07-21
February 14, 2007
Media Inquiries:
301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
1-888-SAFEFOOD

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain Jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter
Product May be Contaminated With Salmonella
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee (a bacterium that causes foodborne illness). The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number "2111." Both the Peter Pan and Great Value brands are manufactured in a single facility in Georgia by ConAgra. Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected.

If consumers have any of this Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter in their home that has been purchased since May 2006, they should discard it.

Symptoms of foodborne illness caused by Salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Individuals who have recently eaten Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.

FDA's warning is based on a just-completed epidemiological study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the states and local health agencies, which links 288 cases of foodborne illness in 39 states to consumption of varying types of Peter Pan peanut butter. This report was provided to FDA on February 13.

The outbreak appears to be ongoing and the first consumer may have become ill in August 2006. The cause of foodborne illnesses can be difficult to identify. As a result of extensive epidemiological testing and recent case control studies, CDC was recently able to identify Peter Pan peanut butter as the likely cause of illness. Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 is manufactured in the same plant as Peter Pan peanut butter and, thus, is believed to be at similar risk of contamination.

ConAgra is recalling all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 that already was distributed. The company also is destroying all affected products in their possession. The company will cease production until the exact cause of contamination can be identified and eliminated. ConAgra will advise consumers to destroy any Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 in their possession. To assist in this endeavor, FDA has sent investigators to ConAgra's processing plant in Sylvester, Georgia where the products are made to review records, collect product samples and conduct tests for Salmonella Tennessee.

FDA will provide regular updates as more information becomes available.

Consumers who have questions should contact ConAgra at 866-344-6970.

Jamie

[nora]

Ok, less happy day. I'm checking the lot number right now...

[nora]

Well, it is not an urban legend, I have indeed purchased 8 jars of salmonella ridden peanut butter. And consumed two sandwiches thereof. Will be looking up the symptoms of salmonella poisoning...and burying the 8 jars once I get home, since if I throw them away, someone will find them and eat it. Or maybe I'll scoop it out at night into my compost pile when no one can see me. Or maybe I shouldn't introduce salmonella into my compost...

Sigh.

[nora]

Ok, I am now investigating pressure cooking my PB. That's what I do with the local peanut butter I buy at the market. We'll see...

[Eva]

yeesh, is that a Murphy's Law moment, or what!! Acually, Murphy's Law is kind of funny, while the peanut butter debacle just me feel upset on your behalf.

[nora]

Thanks Eva! Actually, a friend said that she was glad that it was me that bought it-with a great blogger that warned me, and the resources to treat salmonella if I did get it. Who knows who might have gotten sick otherwise?

And who knew that blogging would be good for my health?

[rockrunner]

I am so bummed about this. I was so happy for you that you got it cheaper than normal...makes you wonder if it was dumped over there after it was known.

[Boats]

It is odd that the peanut butter was so cheap. I would almost say that it was dumped on the market after it was discovered it was possibly contaminated. It might have even been considered a "find" if the store owner did not know what they were getting.

[Cousin Kathy]

Hi Nora,

Sorry about the peanut butter!! I find this all terribly interesting!
I will continue to check for updates in your fascinating life!!

[Cousin Mary]

Hey Nora,

I hope you haven't felt sick from the peanut butter...it was a huge deal here. Make sure you see a doctor if you don't feel well.

Thanks for seting up the blog...it will be fun travelling with you on your "journey"