Recalls in February 2009

February 26, 2009
CBB Group Inc. is recalling about 39,000 toys sold at dollar stores and toy stores nationwide.

The recalled toys include fishing games, rattles, pull cars and cartoon bubble guns.

The fishing games, baby rattles and pull-a-long cars contain small parts, which can detach and pose a choking hazard to children. The mini pull back cars and bubble guns have surface paints which contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Description: The recalled toys are described in the chart below:

The recalled items, made in China, were sold at dollar stores and toy stores nationwide from July 2007 through December 2008 for between $1 and $5.

Consumers should take the recalled products away from young children immediately and return them to the place where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact CBB Group, Inc. toll-free at (866) 628-6238 anytime, or visit the firms Web site at www.cbbgroup.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

A sample of peanut meal from the Peanut Corporation of America's (PCA) Texas plant has tested positive for the same strain of salmonella linked to the nationwide outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people and may have caused the deaths of nine others, state health officials announced Wednesday.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said a sample of peanut meal collected on February 12 at PCA's Plainview, Texas plant contained Salmonella Typhimurium.

Texas authorities shut down that plant on February 9 after inspectors found dead rodents, bird feathers, and rodent excrement in a crawl space above the facility's production area. That same day, state officials recalled all peanut products made at the plant since 2005.

This is the second PCA plant where samples of peanut products have tested positive for the strain of salmonella linked to the nationwide outbreak.

In January, an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the company's Blakely, Georgia, plant revealed internal tests of a sample of peanut paste tested positive for Salmonella Typhimurium. That sample, identified as lot #8278, was made at the plant on September 26, 2008 and later shipped into commerce.

The inspection also revealed the company shipped peanut products from that plant — 12 times since 2007 — that had tested positive for fours strains of salmonella. FDA inspectors also found unsanitary conditions at the plant, including roaches, mold, and a leaking roof.

According to the Associated Press, PCA shipped products between its Georgia and Texas plants. The company mainly shipped "seasoned" products — including honey roasted peanuts and hot and spicy peanuts — from its Georgia plant to its facility in Texas, the wire service said. PCA shipped peanut meal from its Texas plant to the one in Georgia.

FDA officials said they will continue investigating the current salmonella outbreak, but are confident they've found the likely culprit.

"The FDA's investigation is ongoing and the agency is looking at both the PCA Blakely plant and the PCA Plainview (Texas) plant as sources of contamination for the outbreak," Stephanie Kwisnek told the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, PCA remains the focus of a criminal investigation for knowingly shipping products it knew had tested positive for salmonella. It also faces dozens of civil lawsuits.

Damaging evidence has already surface against the company, including e-mails that indicate the company's president, Stewart Parnell, ordered products he knew were tainted with salmonella to be shipped anyway. Some of those potentially-tainted products made their way to poor schoolchildren and victims of recent disasters.

Earlier this month, Parnell refused to answer questions about the salmonella outbreak from the House Energy and Commerce investigations subcommittee. A few days later, the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal the salmonella outbreak has sickened 666 people in 45 states.

While PCA's products were not sold directly to consumers, food manufacturers used the company's peanut butter and paste to make cookies, crackers, cereal, ice cream, energy bars, and even pet treats.

In recent months, more than 200 companies have pulled nearly 2,700 products off store shelves because they contain potentially tainted PCA products. Many continue to pull products off the market almost every day, making this one of the country's largest food-related recalls.

None of the national brands of peanut butter — including Skippy, Jif, and Peter Pan — are included in any recalls. The makers of those products continue to remind consumers their peanut butter is safe to eat.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems, health officials say.

Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can cause more severe illnesses, including arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

FDA officials warn salmonella can be transferred from pets to humans. They advise pet owners to thoroughly wash their hands before and after feeding treats to pets.

Consumers should also discard any products recalled in this salmonella outbreak, officials said.

The FDA now has a database that consumers can search to see if their favorite products are involved in any recalls.

Add more pet treats to what seems like a never-ending list of products recalled in the wake of this year's salmonella outbreak, which has sickened more than 600 people nationwide and may be linked to the deaths of nine others.

The company at the heart of this outbreak — the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) — recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. That action came within days after the company's president, Stewart Parnell, refused to answer questions about the salmonella outbreak from the House Energy and Commerce investigations subcommittee.

The bankruptcy action also came on the heels of state and federal inspections of the company's facilities in Georgia and Texas, which revealed PCA shipped products it knew had tested positive for salmonella.

The reports also revealed such unsanitary conditions at PCA's facilities as dead rodents, roaches, mold, and bird feathers and rodent excrement in a crawl space above the production area at one of the company's plants.

The ongoing recalls are fueled in part by Texas authorities' recent decision to immediately pull all products made at PCA's Plainview, Texas, plant since March 2005.

The latest products recalled in this outbreak are American Health Kennels baked dog treats. The action specifically covers the following items:

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Cookie Bars: Creamy Peanut Butter UPC 725999522004; PB & Carob Chips UPC 725999523001; Lucious Carob UPC 725999521007; 4pack Cookiebar Assortment UPC 725999538005; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Peanut Butter Crunch 12oz UPC 725999001103; 16oz UPC 725999161104; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc. Bark Bars Peanut Butter: 1.5oz Jumbo UPC 725999000168; 2.25 Pillow Pack UPC 725999333105; 2.5lb canister UPC 725999005064; 5lb bulk UPC 725999001257; 6oz Smiles UPC 725999530009; Giggles UPC 725999530009;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Christmas Stocking 6oz UPC 725999000175; Christmas Card Mailer UPC 725999513003; Birthday Mailer UPC 725999528006; "With Love" Hearts UPC 725999512944; Holiday Smiles UPC 725999222300;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., 100 Calorie 2oz Pillow Pack UPC 725999539101; 100 Calorie 14oz dispenser UPC 725999539200; Gravity Trial 2oz UPC 725999400166; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Bark Bars Minis UPC 72599953300; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Bark Bars Animal Snackers 3oz UPC 725999512098; 12oz UPC 725999512098; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Bark Bars Milk & Cookies UPC 725999333808; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Dog Ate My Homework Jumbo UPC 725999531006; 2oz Pillow Pack UPC 725999535004; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Bark Bars Naughty or Nice UPC 725999530092; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Bark Bars Carob & Peanut Butter, 2.5lb canister UPC 725999005071; 2.25oz Pillow Pack UPC 725999333402; 5lb bulk UPC 725999003251; Best Before: 11/09;

• American Health Kennels, Inc., Bark Bars Brownie Delight 12oz UPC 725999003107; 5lb bulk UPC 725999003251; Best Before: 11/09

American Kennel said it has not received any reports of illnesses linked to these products. "We are effecting this recall in the interest of public safety even though we know our product is safe," the company said in a written statement.

In recent months, more than 200 companies nationwide have pulled some 2,100 products off store shelves because they contain potentially tainted peanut butter or paste made by PCA. The recalled products include such items as crackers, cookies, cereal, energy bars, ice cream, and pet treats.

None of the national brands of peanut butter — including Skippy, Jif, and Peter Pan — are included in any recalls. The makers of those products continue to remind consumers their peanut butter is safe to eat.

Hundreds of food manufacturers, however, used PCA peanut butter and paste as ingredients in their products. Many continue to pull products off store shelves almost daily, making this one of the country's largest food-related recalls.

PCA remains the focus of a criminal investigation for allegedly shipping products it knew had tested positive for salmonella, including the strain linked to the current outbreak — Salmonella Typhimurium. The company also faces more than a dozen civil lawsuits.

Damaging evidence that surfaced in the investigation includes e-mails that indicate PCA's president Stewart Parnell ordered products he knew were tainted with salmonella to be shipped anyway.

Some of those potentially-tainted products made their way to poor school children and victims of recent disasters.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that salmonella can be transferred from pets to humans. They advise pet owners to thoroughly wash their hands before and after feeding treats to pets.

FDA officials say symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets includes lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets may also have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can cause more severe illnesses, including arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

Health officials say consumers should discard any products recalled in this salmonella outbreak.

The FDA now has a database that consumers can search to see if their favorite products are involved in any recalls.

The peanut butter salmonella outbreak has already had wide-ranging and, in some cases devastating, consequences. It is likely only a matter of time before a class-action lawsuit is filed against the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), the company whose contaminated peanuts are believed to be the source of the outbreak.

Indeed, several firms are already laying the groundwork for a possible suit, gathering data and asking consumers who have been affected to contact their offices.

As the Pennsylvania firm of Pogust, Braslow & Millrood notes on its website, the FDA has already blamed PCA for failure to manufacture foods under conditions and controls necessary to minimize the potential for growth of microorganisms and contamination. The law firm of Parker Waichman Alonso is offering free consultations to those affected by the outbreak.

But while some aspects of the incident make a class action seem appealing, any suit will invariably face tough hurdles before it moves forward.

Smoking guns

At this point, there is little doubt as to PCAs liability for the outbreak, which has so far caused nine deaths and around 600 illnesses. The bacteria are thought to have originated from PCAs Georgia plant, and the evidence against the company is staggering. The FDA announced that PCA knowingly shipped contaminated peanut butter 12 times in the past two years.

Last Wednesday, PCA president Stuart Parnell refused to testify at Congressional hearings, eventually causing frustrated lawmakers to dismiss him from the session altogether. In mid-January, PCA issued a voluntary recall of certain products manufactured after July 1, 2008; Parnell insisted the recall was instituted with the safety of our consumers as our first priority.

In the weeks that followed, more products were added to the recall list, and on February 12, in a stunning development, Texas health officials ordered PCA to recall all products ever produced at a second plant, located in Plainview, Texas. The states report detailed rodent droppings, bird feathers, and dead rodents in a crawl space above the area where the peanut butter was manufactured. Further, officials found that the air flow system was pulling the debris into the processing area, posing enormous health risks.

Finally, PCA has a history of health-related allegations; it settled a lawsuit in 1992 after inspectors discovered toxic mold in their products, and in 2001 health officials found that PCA peanuts may have been exposed to pesticides.

Litigation difficult

Even with such seemingly unassailable evidence, any class action brought against the company will be difficult to litigate. In February 2007, a class action was filed on behalf of individuals who fell ill due to a salmonella outbreak affecting peanut butter manufactured by ConAgra. The suit, brought by lead plaintiffs James Daniels and Linda Oswald, was handled by Marler Clark, a firm that has for 15 years specialized in food contamination and resulting illnesses.

In spite of the number of potential class members who stepped forward — 2,200 families contacted Marler Clark — and the attorneys extensive experience in the field, in August 2008 a federal judge in Georgia refused to let the suit proceed. In his order, Judge Thomas Thrash said that, whether or not the class action was certified, each class member would have to prove individual issues such as injury, causation, and damages.

Essentially, the judge said, the suit would proceed in the same manner regardless of whether it was certified as a class — each class member would need a separate trial — negating the judicial efficiency that is usually achieved through class actions.

The judge also said that the variation in state laws would render the suit impossible to litigate, insisting that class certification is impossible where the fifty states truly establish a large number of different legal standards governing a particular claim. The judge went so far as to suggest that litigation might not even be the best way to resolve the controversy; in that case, class members were entitled to a full refund from ConAgra, which Judge Thrash said might be the best resolution for all parties involved.

While no two cases are identical, any class action brought against PCA will likely face similar factual and legal hurdles.

Individual suits

In any event, whatever form it takes, there will be plenty of litigation; there have already been at least a dozen individual suits filed against PCA. The Minnesota law firm of Pritzker Olsen has filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of a 72-year-old woman who died after eating King Nut peanut butter, which is manufactured by PCA.

Marler, the attorney who brought the class action against ConAgra, has already filed a number of individual lawsuits, including one on behalf of two children who were hospitalized after eating Kelloggs peanut crackers containing PCA-manufactured peanuts. He is looking into at least two suits on behalf of families who lost loved ones to the contaminated products.

Marler says that the scope of illness is startling, even given his long background in the field. He went so far as to speculate that the scope of the product recall may eventually prove to be the largest recall of food weve ever had in this country.

PCAs insurance company, anticipating the coming wave of litigation, isnt taking any chances either. On February 3, Hartford Casualty Insurance filed suit against PCA, seeking a declaratory judgment that the companys policy excludes claims for salmonella infection.

In any case, it looks like PCA likely wont survive the scandal; the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Friday. Undeterred, Marler says that if PCA doesnt have enough assets and insurance to cover civil settlements, companies who used the peanuts in their products will have to step up and cover the costs.

Major brands OK

None of PCA's products were sold directly to consumers. They were distributed to long-term care facilities, universities, food service industries, and private label food companies in the United States, Canada, Haiti, Korea, and Trinidad.

U.S. food makers, however, used the company's peanut butter and paste to make various products, including cookies, crackers, ice cream, energy bars, and dog treats. That's why so many food manufacturers have recently recalled their products.

And the list of products pulled off store shelves continues to grow almost daily, making it one of the country's largest food-related recalls.

The massive recall, however, does not include any of the major brands of peanut butter sold on grocery stores shelves. That's a message the makers of Jif, Skippy, and Peanut Pan peanut butters have taken great pains to broadcast to consumers. Some have taken out ads in newspapers nationwide to reassure buyers their products are safe to eat.

The FDA now has a complete list of all products recalled in the salmonella outbreak on its Web site. Consumers can check that Web site daily to see if their favorite products are included in any recalls.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can cause more severe illnesses, including arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

Health officials say salmonella can also be transferred to humans who handle pet treats tainted with the organism. They advise pet owners to wash their hands after they come touch these pet treats.

Symptoms of salmonella infection in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets, however, may have a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.

There's more bad news for the peanut processing company linked to the nationwide salmonella outbreak, which has sickened more than 600 people nationwide and may have caused the deaths of nine others.

Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) on Friday filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Virginia, according to the Associated Press.

The action comes just days after PCA's president, Stewart Parnell, refused to answer questions from members of the House Energy and Commerce investigations subcommittee.

That subcommittee is looking for ways to prevent another outbreak like this one, which has forced food manufacturers to recall more 2,000 products that contain peanut butter or paste made at PCA's Blakely, Georgia, plant.

The bankruptcy action also comes on the heels of Thursday's order by the Texas Department of State Health Services to recall all products PCA ever shipped from its plant in Plainview, Texas.

During a recent inspection of that plant, inspectors discovered dead rodents, bird feathers, and rodent excrement in a crawl space above the production area. Plainview is the second PCA plant where inspectors have found unsanitary conditions.

In January, inspectors with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered roaches, mold, and a leaking roof at the company's Georgia plant.

Inspectors also uncovered documents that revealed PCA shipped peanut products that had tested positive for salmonella, including the strain linked to the current outbreak: Salmonella Typhimurium.

That discovery also exposed a dirty secret in the food manufacturing industry: companies are not required to disclose internal tests to the FDA or state officials.

PCA is now the focus of a criminal investigation for allegedly shipping tainted products. It also faces more than a dozen civil lawsuits.

Damaging evidence has already surfaced in the investigation, including e-mails that indicate Parnell ordered products he knew were tainted with salmonella to be shipped anyway.

Some of those potentially-tainted products made their way to poor school children of victims of recent disasters.

Legal experts say companies file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection to liquidate their assets and distribute the proceeds to creditors.

PCA's bankruptcy filing reveals the company's debt and assets both ranged between $1 million and $10 million, according to the Associated Press. The filing also states the recalls have been "extremely devastating" to PCA's financial condition.

Lawyers handling some of the recent litigation against PCA told the Associated Press they are optimistic that victims and their families can still be compensated.

While the bankruptcy proceeding could postpone litigation against the company, the lawyers said they will push a judge to allow the civil actions to proceed.

Many lawyers have also filed lawsuits against King Nut Co. and Kellogg Co., which used PCA-tainted ingredients in their products.

"Even if Peanut Corp. doesn't have enough insurance and enough assets to cover the damages, King Nut and Kellogg will have to step up," attorney Bill Marler told the Associated Press. He has filed seven lawsuits against PCA on behalf of more than 40 possible victims.

None of PCA's products were sold directly to consumers. They were distributed to long-term care facilities, universities, food service industries, and private label food companies in the United States, Canada, Haiti, Korea, and Trinidad.

U.S. food makers, however, used the company's peanut butter and paste to make various products, including cookies, crackers, ice cream, energy bars, and dog treats. That's why so many food manufacturers have recently recalled their products.

And the list of products pulled off store shelves continues to grow almost daily, making it one of the country's largest food-related recalls.

The massive recall, however, does not include any of the major brands of peanut butter sold on grocery stores shelves. That's a message the makers of Jif, Skippy, and Peanut Pan peanut butters have taken great pains to broadcast to consumers. Some have taken out ads in newspapers nationwide to reassure buyers their products are safe to eat.

The FDA now has a complete list of all products recalled in the salmonella outbreak on its Web site. Consumers can check that Web site daily to see if their favorite products are included in any recalls.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can cause more severe illnesses, including arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

Health officials say salmonella can also be transferred to humans who handle pet treats tainted with the organism. They advise pet owners to wash their hands after they come touch these pet treats.

Symptoms of salmonella infection in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets, however, may have a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.

February 10, 2009
About 2,300 Golfer's billiard games are being recalled because paint on the golf balls can contain excess levels of lead.

The recalled golfer's billiard game includes 15 golf balls (with exterior paint and design to resemble a billiard ball) and six putting cups. The recall involves the Acuity Golfer's Billiard Game, Style #AC302, and the Clubhouse Golfer's Billiard Game, Style #302. The name and style number are located on the product's packaging.

The Acuity model was sold at Dick's Sporting Goods stores nationwide from October 2008 to December 2008 for about $30. The Clubhouse model was sold at Golf Galaxy stores nationwide and on its Web site from May 2008 to December 2008 for about $30. They were made in China.

Consumers should stop using the product immediately and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund.

For additional information, contact the retailer where the set was purchased:

Dick's Sporting Goods: call (866) 677-4771 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit www.dickssportinggoods.com.

Golf Galaxy: call (866) 465-3655 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit www.golfgalaxy.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

February 4, 2009
Dorel is recalling about 100,000 Safety 1st SmartLight stair gates. The hinges that hold the stair gate in place can break, posing a fall hazard to children if the gate is placed at the top of the stairs.

The recall involves the Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gate with model number 42111, which is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. The gates, which were manufactured before December 31, 2007, are white metal with a gray handle and a motion sensor nightlight that illuminates on approach.

The manufacture date is located below the gate's handle as a date wheel imprinted in the plastic; an arrow indicates the month, and the year is stamped inside the circle. The manufacture date is also printed on a sticker inside the battery door.

The gates were sold at mass merchandise and juvenile product stores nationwide, including Babies R Us and Wal-Mart, from January 2005 through December 2007 for about $60. They were made in China.

Consumers should stop using the recalled gate and contact the company to obtain a free repair kit.

Consumers can call the toll-free number 1 (866) 690-2540 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m EDT; complete an online order form on the Dorel Juvenile Group Web site at www.djgusa.com/safety_notice/ to obtain their free repair kit; email the company at Smartlightgate@djgusa.com, or send a fax to (800) 207-8182. Consumers should not return the product to retail stores.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

February 2, 2009
Toyota is recalling 2006 and 2007 Yaris models to fix a problem with the front seat belt retractor. The recall affects nearly 135,000 cars.

The problem involves the seat belt pretensioners, which are designed to tighten and snugly restrain occupants in the event of a severe frontal impact. The recalled vehicles contain a center pillar sound insulator located underneath each front seat belt pretensioner.

Toyota said that when the pretensioner is deployed, it could generate a small amount of gas which could cause the sound insulators to ignite, possibly causing a post-collision fire.

Dealers will modify the vehicle by removing the small urethane sound insulators when the recall begins in February.

Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371.

Consumers may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or at www.safercar.gov.

More than 20 companies recalled cookies, candies, pet treats, and other products over the weekend because they contain peanut butter or paste made by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA).

That company is linked to the nationwide salmonella outbreak, which has sickened more than 500 people in 43 states and may be related to the deaths of eight others.

PCA is also the focus of a federal investigation for allegedly shipping peanut products it knew had tested positive for salmonella.

In recent weeks, food makers across the country have recalled more than 400 types of products in what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calls the largest food-related recall in memory.

And the list keeps growing — fueled by PCA's recent decision to expand its recall to include all peanuts and peanut products made at its Georgia facility since 2007.

Here are some of the latest products companies have recalled in the wake of PCA's expanded recall of peanuts and peanut products:

• Walgreens chocolate candies. The company sold the candies in its stores from January 1, 2007 to Jan. 29, 2009. The recall covers: WALGREENS BRIDGE MIX 3.5 OZ, 4 OZ, 14 OZ and 15 OZ; WALGREENS CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUTS 3.5 OZ, 4 OZ, 13.5 OZ and 15 OZ; WALGREENS CARAMEL NUT CLUSTERS 3.5 OZ, 4 OZ, 13.5 OZ and 15 OZ; and WALGREENS CHOCOLATE PEANUT CLUSTERS 3.5 OZ and 4 OZ. Customers can return the candies for a full refund. For more information, contact Walgreens at 847-315-2755.

• Kroger Peanut Butter Bakery Cookies and Select Cakes. The company sold the products in 31 states under the following names: Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry's, King Soopers, Smith's, Dillons, QFC, City Market, Foods Co., Jay C, Scott's, Owen's, Baker's, Gerbes, Hilander and Pay Less. The recall specifically includes all packages of the following Kroger, Store-Brand, and Private Selection store-baked and store-packaged cookies: Peanut Butter Cookies Regular, Jumbo, Decorated, Iced, Gourmet, Mini and Sandwich cookies; Assorted and Variety Bakery Cookies Regular and Jumbo; Private Selection Peanut Chocolate Chunk Cookies; Private Selection Gourmet Variety Cookie Trays. Kroger is also recalling all sizes of the following Private Selection Cakes: Private Selection Chocolate Trio Single-Layer and Double-Layer Iced Cakes. Customers can return these products to the store for a full refund. For more information, contact Kroger's at (800) 632-6900 or check the company's Web site.

• Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co. products with Honey Roasted Peanuts and Granulated Peanuts. The recall covers: Mountain Man Special Mixed Nuts (All Lots); Mountain Man Sweet Explosion (All Lots); Mountain Man Paddlewheel Mix (All Lots); Mountain Man Honey Roast Peanuts (All Lots); Mountain Man Special Mixed Nut Gift Pack (All 1 lb and 1.75 lb packs); Mountain Man Cherry Hill Supremes (Product purchased prior to August 14, 2008); RiverTrail Sweet & Spicy Mix (All Lots); and RiverTrail Honey Roast Mix (All Lots). The recall, however, does not include any Mountain Man products offered in partnership with Frontier Airlines. Consumers can return the products for a full refund. For more information, contact Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co. at 1-800-225-0045.

• Six types of Publix Super Markets snacks. The products included in this action are Publix Boston Baked Beans, 10.7oz UPC: 41415-17686-7; Greenwise Organic Ambassador Mix, 6.9oz UPC: 41415-13586-4; Publix Sunburst Mix, 17.1oz UPC: 41415-07186-5; Publix Sweet N Nutty, 35.8oz UPC: 41415-16486-4; Publix Trail Mix with Goji Berries, 7.7oz UPC: 41415-06086-9l; and Publix Spicy Trail Mix, 23.2oz UPC: 41415-07786-7. Consumers can return the products for a full refund. For more information, contact Publix at 1-800-242- 1227 or check the company's Web site.

• Healthy Hide 6" Peanut Butter Filled Shank Bone. The products are made by Salix LLC, a manufacturer of rawhide dog chews, and sold to retailers nationwide. They come in a clear plastic bag with the name Healthy Hide on the front. The package is a 1-count 6" Peanut Butter Filled Shank Bone and has a Universal Product Code of 0-91093-33479-0. All packages are marked with one of the following lot codes: between CP 20081508 and CP 20012209. Consumers can return the products for a full refund.

The candies were distributed nationwide through retail stores and the company's mail order division and retail store. For more information about this action, or to obtain a refund, contact the Standard Candy Company at 1-800-226-4340.

The FDA has a complete list of all products recalled in the salmonella outbreak on its Web site. Consumers can check that Web site daily to see if their favorite products are included in any recalls.

Meanwhile, PCA has halted production at its Georgia plant and says it's working with the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their investigation of the salmonella outbreak.

PCA made that decision after the FDA released an inspection report that revealed such unsanitary conditions as roaches and mold at its Georgia plant, and confirmed the company shipped peanut products that had tested positive for salmonella 12 times since 2007.

That discovery exposed a dirty secret in the food manufacturing industry — companies are not required to disclose internal tests to the FDA or state officials.

According to the FDA's inspection's report, one of PCA's recent shipments — a batch of peanut paste made on September 25, 2008 — had tested positive for the strain of salmonella linked to the current outbreak: Salmonella Typhimurium.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can cause more severe illnesses, including arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

PCA's products are not sold directly to consumers. They are distributed to long-term care facilities, universities, food service industries, and private label food companies in the United States, Canada, Haiti, Korea, and Trinidad.

U.S. food makers, however, use the company's peanut butter and paste to make cookies, crackers, ice cream, energy bars, and other products.

Some pet food makers also use PCA products. That's why health officials have warned pet owners that salmonella can be transferred to humans who handle these products. Pet owners are advised to wash their hands after they come touch these pet treats.

Symptoms of salmonella infection in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets, however, may have a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.

None of the major brands of peanut butter sold on grocery stores shelves are included in any of the current salmonella-peanut butter recalls. The makers of Jif, Skippy, and Peanut Pan peanut butters continue to remind consumers that their products are safe to eat.