Peanut Butter Recall Affects Disaster Recovery in Arkansas and Kentucky

February 5, 2009 By Corey McKenna

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is advising people who have received commercial meal kits to inspect them for peanut butter packets and dispose of them. These meal kits were manufactured by Red Cloud Food Services Inc. under the Standing Rock label and have been provided to disaster survivors in impacted communities in Kentucky and Arkansas.

The peanut butter in these packets was manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America at a manufacturing plant in Blakely, Ga., processing plant and is subject to recall. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration determined that this plant is the source of Salmonella Typhimurium that has infected 529 people across the country according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The first cases of Salmonella Typhimurium associated with the peanut butter recall appeared in November 2008 when CDC staff noticed a small, highly dispersed cluster of 13 infections involving this particular strain of Salmonella in the center's PulseNet food-borne disease surveillance system.

The main course of the meals can be of different types. The portion of the meal that may pose the risk are the packets of peanut butter.

FEMA continues to maintain close coordination with the states as well as constant vigilance regarding any industry notices to ensure we have not and are not issuing any meals subject to recall, the agency said in a statement on its Web site. Individuals with concerns over this or any recalled product should address them with local health officials and/or CDC and FDA.

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