Ocean #7 01/21/09

OCEAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MONITORING NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER-RELATED SALMONELLA OUTBREAK Commentary by FREEHOLDER DEPUTY DIRECTOR GERRY P. LITTLE

It’s a favorite food for millions of children, yet there’s danger lurking in some of the peanut butter snacks commonly found in your child’s lunchbox.

The Ocean County Health Department is closely monitoring the Salmonella outbreak among several brands of bulk peanut butter and snacks that may have been processed with the tainted food.

It’s important to know that peanut butter commonly sold in jars at supermarkets and other stores has not been impacted by Salmonella. So, if your son or daughter is clamoring for a peanut butter sandwich, there’s no need to worry.

The tainted peanut butter, from a Georgia processing plant, is sold in bulk to long-term healthcare and other institutions. The peanut butter and peanut paste is also used in some cookies, cakes, crackers and other foods.

Our county health officials are joining with the federal government in advising that consumers avoid cookies, cakes, crackers, ice cream and other snacks made with peanut butter.

So far, about 500 people have been stricken with Salmonella across the United States, including nearly 20 people in New Jersey. Our health Department’s epidemiologist is working closely with both state and federal officials to monitor the problem. The Health Department also stays in contact with our four local hospitals, so cases of Salmonella poisoning can quickly be identified and monitored.

Although most people infected with Salmonella recover without needing treatment, the infection can be life-threatening for infants, senior citizens and those with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Anyone who experiences these symptoms, especially within 12 to 72 hours after eating peanut butter, should seek immediate medical attention.

While the Health Department advises everyone to avoid peanut butter snack foods, the federal government has compiled a list of food products voluntarily recalled by retailers and manufacturers. The updated list can be found at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall.

With the large number of senior citizens living in Ocean County, along with our young families, the Health Department will continue to monitor this problem closely. The latest updates on the Salmonella outbreak can be found at the Ocean County Health Department’s web site at www.ochd.org.

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