The Arizona Department of Health Services wants citizens to check their shelves and cupboards for any recalled food tied to the recent Salmonella outbreak.  The nationwide recall of products containing peanut butter from Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) is expanding rapidly. More than 300 products have been recalled as of January 22, 2008.

People can find a complete list of products affected by the recall on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website www.fda.gov .  Click on “Recall of Products Containing Peanut Butter” for the most up-to-date list.

Jars of major brands of peanut butter found in grocery stores are not affected by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) recall.

Public health has confirmed almost 500 people who were infected with Salmonella linked to this nationwide outbreak.  One in five cases has been hospitalized.  Ten cases have been confirmed in Arizona, with one hospitalization.  ADHS recommends the following:
 

• Do not eat recalled products.
• Throw away products that have been recalled in a manner that prevents others from eating them. The list of recalled products can be found at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm
• Postpone eating other products that contain peanut butter (such as crackers, cookies, cereal, candy, and ice cream) until information becomes available about whether that product may be affected.
• Call the consumer hotline phone number that may be on any product packages to find out if the product is safe to eat.

People who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter or peanut products are advised to consult their health care providers.  Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12–72 hours after infection.