FDA Warns Of New Peanut Scare

WASHINGTON—The FDA has warned consumers about a new peanut-butter scare and resulting recall.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to eat any peanut products sold by Westco Fruit and Nuts Inc. (Westco/Westcott) based in Irvington, N.J.

The nuts might have come from Peanut Corporation of America, which remains under fire for the Salmonella outbreak. 

Investigations by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified products from PCA’s Blakely, Ga., facility as a source of the current outbreak and led to PCA’s recall of the peanuts.

Between Nov. 19 and Dec. 30, 2008, Westco/Westcott received three shipments of Oil Roasted Salted Redskin Jumbo Peanuts from PCA’s Blakely, Ga., facility.

The products were sold between November 2008 and February 2009.

The FDA encouraged consumers to check whether they have peanut-derived products made by or distributed by Westco/Westcott in their homes.

Consumers who do should dispose of the peanuts in a safe manner by placing them in a plastic bag with bleach, seal the bag properly and place in a trash bin. They should wash their hands after handling.

Salmonella is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Click here for more information from the FDA.

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