Due to a Salmonella scare products with peanut butter paste are being pulled from store shelves around the country. Peanut Corporation America,a processing plant in Georgia has been linked to the outbreak, but officials still have not figured out how bacteria has gotten into the peanut butter and paste.
On January 21st I reported on PetSmart’s Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits voluntary recall due to peanut butterpaste used in their products. When I was posting the article I was thinking of other food products that people may be feeding their dogs. Bo loves peanut butter, we usually just give him a little spoonful from ajar but on occasion we have given him peanut butter filled crackers.
In Georgia an elderly dog who was given Austin peanut butter crackers has died and Salmonella is suspected.
Atlanta residentBert Kanist is heartbroken and just wants answers. He fears he poisoned his dog with Austin brand peanut butter crackers two days before they were recalled.
Like some other pet owners, he gave his dogs human food as treats, and his dog Ozzie loved peanut butter crackers. He ate two packages of them, became ill the next day, and succumbed to the illness within 24 hours. Mr. Kanist’s other dog, Snickers, didn’t eat any of the peanut butter crackers, and seems fine except she’s missing her buddy.
This story isa good reminder not to give your pet any peanut products until the cause of this outbreak and all the products affected are known.
Here are some tips from the FDA…….
FDA and CDC recommendations for consumers include:
Do not eat products that have been recalled and throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them.
To determine if commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream) are subject to recall, consumers are urged first to visit FDA’s website and check the searchable database of recalled products.
For information on products containing peanut butter from companies not reporting recalls, consumers may wish to consult the company’s website or call the toll-free number listed on most packaging. Information consumers may receive from the companies has not been verified by the FDA.
If consumers cannot determine if their peanut butter, peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products or institutionally-served peanut butter contains PCA peanut butter/peanut paste, FDA recommends that they do not consume those products.
Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers.
Our condolences go out to Mr. Kanist and his family.
