By Mark Huffman and Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com
January 22, 2009
More than 125 peanut butter products are now under recall in the wake of the country's salmonella outbreak, and more companies continue to pull peanut butter candies, health bars, and crackers off stores shelves after learning their products contain ingredients made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA).
NutriSystem has announced a voluntary recall of its NutriSystem-branded Peanut Butter Granola Bar 1.41 ounces or 40 grams packaged in flexible film, because the product contains peanut butter which was manufactured by PCA.
The lot codes for the recalled NutriSystem bars are: TC08158A, TC08188A, TC09158A, TC09168A, TC09178A, TC11148A, and TC11178A
The peanut butter is the focus of an ongoing Salmonella investigation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). PCA is one of the suppliers of peanut ingredients to the company. NutriSystem is no longer using PCA as a peanut butter supplier.
There have been no cases of illness or adverse effects reported by any NutriSystem customers, and no other products within the NutriSystem food portfolio, including those made with peanut butter, are affected by this recall, the company said.
No Salmonella contamination has been detected in the NutriSystem Peanut Butter Granola Bar, the commpany said.
"We are urging all consumers who have purchased or are in possession of this product to immediately destroy them," said Sharon Tate, Vice President of Quality Assurance, NutriSystem, Inc. "Customers seeking a replacement bar are being asked to call a NutriSystem representative at 1-866-491-6425 or e-mail PBbar@Nutrisystem.com and a replacement bar will be issued in its place."
The peanut butter granola bar has been distributed directly to customers from the website or call center sales, residing in the United States by NutriSystem. The Peanut Butter Granola Bar (UPC 6 32674320162) is not available in retail stores, and not sold under any other name. This voluntary recall does not apply to NutriSystem Peanut Butter Granola Bar product sold in Canada.
Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.
Other recalls
In addition to NutriSystem, the following companies have recalled products containing peanut butter made by PCA:• Frozen cookie dough by Best Brands Corp. The Minnesota company sold the cookie dough to retail and grocery store bakeries and other foodservice outlets. The recalled items include: Best Brands Corp. 1.25 oz Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 22.5 lb case, 288 cookies per case (Item #1003-01); Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz Custom Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 20.25 lb case, 216 cookies per case (Item #1046-01); Best Brands Corp. 1.25 oz Custom Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 18.75 lb case, 240 cookies per case (Item #1046-02); Best Brands Corp. 2 oz Custom Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 25 lb case, 200 cookies per case (Item #1046-05); Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz Custom Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 20.25 lb case, 216 cookies per case (Item #1047-01); Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz Custom Reese's Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 20.25 lb case, 216 cookies per case (Item #1048-01); Best Brands Corp. 3 oz Original Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 21 lb case, 112 cookies per case (Item #1610-12); Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz ZT Custom Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 20.25 lb case, 216 cookies per case (Item #4367-01); Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz ZT Custom Reese's Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough, 20.25 lb case, 216 cookies per case (Item #4369-01); Best Brands Corp. Peanut Butter Frozen Cookie Dough, 18 lb pail (Item #5201-67. Consumers may have purchased the products as baked cookies of various sizes from trays in the bakery counter or in individual packages with grocery store labels. The name "Best Brands Corp." would not appear on the consumer package. No other Best Brand Corp. products are included in this action. "Best Brands Corp. prides itself in providing the specialty baking industry with high quality, safe products," the company said in a written statement. "We apologize for any inconvenience this precautionary recall may cause."
• Peanut butter-chocolate candies made by Landies Candies.
The company distributed the candies in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. The recalled candies are: Landies Premium Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, 11 oz. bags, sold at Wilson Farms stores, UPC 013065502167, lot # 345; Wegmans Swiss Recipe Ultimate Peanut Butter Cups, 8 oz. tubs, UPC 77890 12946, lot # 273; Wegmans Swiss Recipe Medium Chocolate Holiday Platter, 23 oz., UPC 77890 15526, sold between 10-31-08 and 1-21-09; Wegmans Swiss Recipe Large Chocolate Holiday Platter, 51 oz., UPC 77890 15529, sold between 10-31-08 and 1-21-09; Wegmans Swiss Recipe Large Chocolate Holiday Platter with Sponge Candy, 49 oz., UPC 77890 15530, sold between 10-31-08 and 1-21-09; Wegmans Swiss Recipe Ultimate Peanut Butter Cups, also available at Wegmans in bulk food bins and in random weight packages, Bin # 79966, sold between 10-31-08 and 1-21-09.The company has not received any reports of illnesses linked to these products. "Landies Candies apologizes for any inconvenience to our customers," Lawrence R. Szrama, company president, said. "Landies Candies' product quality and consumer safety have been our top priority for over 23 years and our decision today reflects that tradition." Consumers can return the recalled product for a full refund. For more information, contact Landies Candies at 1-800-834-8212, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST. For questions about the Wegmans brand products included in the recall, customers can contact the company at 1-800-WEGMANS, ext. 4760, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST;
• Cheese Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers and Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers sold at Weis Markets. The recalled products are Weis Quality (WQ) Cheese Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, 11-ounce, (UPC 41497-56442), and Weis Quality Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, 11-ounce, (UPC 41497-56443). The crackers were distributed at Weis Markets stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and West Virginia. Weis Markets removed these products from its store shelves on January 16, 2009, and issued a stop scan order for them. No other Weis Quality products are involved in this action. Kellogg's Company made the crackers; Bremner Food Group was the supplier. Customers can return the recalled crackers to any Weis Markets' store for a full refund. For more information, consumers can call Kellogg's Consumer Response Center at 877-869-5633;
• 1,400 pounds of Blanton's Peanut Butter Sticks made by Blanton's Candies of Sweetwater, Tennessee. The products were distributed in retail stores in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. The recalled peanut butter sticks are packaged in 8 ounce cellophane bags and labeled in part: "Blanton's Homemade Candy, Sweetwater, TN 423-337-3487. The company has stopped making and distributing these products. It has not received any reports of illnesses linked to these peanut butter sticks. The company said consumers should immediately discard the products and take the packaging to the store for a full refund. For more information, customers can call the company at 1-423-337-3487;
• Asian Marinated Flank Steak with Sesame Vegetable Stir Fry, Indonesian Chicken with Coconut Rice, and Chicken Satay & Bangkok Peanut Sauce with Jasmine Rice Meals made in November and December by Dinners Ready of Meridian, Idaho. The marinades used for the protein portions of the meals contain peanut butter recalled by PCA. The recalled meals were distributed in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho. The company has not received any reports of illnesses linked to these products. Customers can return the recalled meals to the store for a replacement. For more information, contact the company at (208) 888-6828;
• Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars made by Lovin Oven of California. The recalled products were distributed nationwide and includes Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars, 6.1 oz box, # 0-35742 15483-4, Lot codes 13JUN09, 14JUN09, 28JUL09, (the lot code can be found on the left hand side of the top panel). No reports of illnesses are linked to these products. Consumers can return the recalled items for a full refund. For more information, contact the company at 1-800-434-4246 (7 am 5 pm Mountain Time).
• POCO PAC and GRANDE GOURMET peanut butter and peanut butter and jelly combination products made by Boca Grande Foods. The company distributed POCO PAC, and GRANDE GOURMET peanut butter products nationally for use in foodservice institutions. The products were distributed in 0.5 oz., 0.75 oz., 1 oz., 1.12 oz., 2 oz., 2.25 oz. and 3 oz. individual plastic containers labeled with POCO PAC, or GRANDE GOURMET. Some of the products were also distributed in unbranded 16 oz., 5 lb. and 50 lb. bulk plastic containers. Customers who received these recalled products will be contacted by a Boca Grande Foods customer service representative. For more information, customers can contact the company at 800-788-8026, extension 15;
• Several varieties of TWISTED and TITAN nutrition bars made by Premier Nutrition. The recall includes: TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Vanilla, BEST BY: AUG 01 2009A (August 1, 2009), through JAN 09 2010A (January 9, 2010); TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Chocolate, BEST BY: AUG 01 2009A (August 1, 2009), through JAN 09 2010A (January 9, 2010); TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Peanut Butter, BEST BY: AUG 01 2009A (August 1, 2009), through JAN 09 2010A (January 9, 2010); TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Variety Packs 15 and 24 count DATED: 07/01/09 (July 1, 2009) through 01/09/10 (January 9, 2010); TITAN Nutrition Bar, Chocolate Peanut Crunch (80g size), BEST BY: SEP 04 2009A (September 4, 2009) through DEC 17 2009A (December 17, 2009); TITAN Nutrition Bar, Chocolate Peanut Crunch (25g size), BEST BY: SEP 04 2009A (September 4, 2009) through DEC 17 2009A (December 17, 2009).
The nutrition bars were sold nationwide in grocery, warehouse, and other retail stores and on the Internet. No other PREMIER NUTRITION flavors, brands or products are included in this recall. "We regret the need to take this action, but the complete safety of our customers and consumers is our highest priority," said Chris Geist, chief operating officer for Premier Nutrition. Customers should destroy the recalled bars, the company said. For more information about the recall or a refund, customers can contact the company at 888-836-8977 or visit Premier Nutrition's Web site.
