Girl Scouts Say Cookies Aren't Part Of Recall
Some Peanut Butter Products Pulled Over Salmonella Fears
Updated: 4:21 pm CST January 22, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- As the recall of products containing peanut butter continue over concerns they might be contaminated with salmonella, area Girl Scouts selling cookies are trying to get the word out that their cookies aren't part of the recall.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportFederal officials said the contaminated peanut butter has contributed to six deaths and sickened more than 480 people.In the last day, the Food and Drug Administration has added more products to its recall list, including snacks and even some pet foods.Area Girl Scouts are in the middle of their annual cookie sales, and while experts are saying people should avoid peanut butter products until this problem passes, the Girl Scouts said their peanut butter products are problem-free."Most of the phone calls and the e-mails have said, 'We want to buy Girl Scout cookies. We're concerned about the peanut butter situation. Are they safe to buy?'" said Barbie Wiers, of the Girl Scouts, Black Hawk Council.Wiers said buyers of Girl Scout cookies don't have to worry about salmonella contamination."Our baker is ABC Bakers, which is a subsidiary of Interbake Bakers. They voluntary test all of their incoming peanut butter shipments, so we know they're in the clear there," Wiers said.But other peanut butter products are questionable, WISC-TV reported. Some have been pulled off shelves, and other products are just being avoided.Dr. Nasia Safdar, an infectious disease expert at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, said people normally don't think of peanut butter when they think of salmonella, but its ingredients make it very susceptible."There's a lot of potential for contamination," Safdar said. "It can't grow in peanut butter, but it can stay dormant. And pasteurization wouldn't kill it and so that can last indefinitely. When people eat it, then it can certainly multiply."But as people cut back on buying products with peanut butter, area Girl Scouts said they hope people don't avoid their cookies.Of the more than 480 people sickened by salmonella, three have been reported in Wisconsin. The cases were reported in Kenosha, Brown and Chippewa counties.Even though the salmonella threat has been traced to a single Peanut Corp. of America plant in Georgia, health officials are urging people to simply toss out any products in their home that contain peanut butter -- with the exception of plain, jarred peanut butter.For more information on recalled peanut butter items, visit this Web site.Meanwhile, at Second Harvest Food Bank, volunteers are working hard inspecting products containing peanut butter and pulling some off the shelves.The Madison food bank distributes to more than 450 nonprofit programs throughout southern Wisconsin, and its director said with increased donations during the holidays, screening is a daunting task.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportFederal officials said the contaminated peanut butter has contributed to six deaths and sickened more than 480 people.In the last day, the Food and Drug Administration has added more products to its recall list, including snacks and even some pet foods.Area Girl Scouts are in the middle of their annual cookie sales, and while experts are saying people should avoid peanut butter products until this problem passes, the Girl Scouts said their peanut butter products are problem-free."Most of the phone calls and the e-mails have said, 'We want to buy Girl Scout cookies. We're concerned about the peanut butter situation. Are they safe to buy?'" said Barbie Wiers, of the Girl Scouts, Black Hawk Council.Wiers said buyers of Girl Scout cookies don't have to worry about salmonella contamination."Our baker is ABC Bakers, which is a subsidiary of Interbake Bakers. They voluntary test all of their incoming peanut butter shipments, so we know they're in the clear there," Wiers said.But other peanut butter products are questionable, WISC-TV reported. Some have been pulled off shelves, and other products are just being avoided.Dr. Nasia Safdar, an infectious disease expert at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, said people normally don't think of peanut butter when they think of salmonella, but its ingredients make it very susceptible."There's a lot of potential for contamination," Safdar said. "It can't grow in peanut butter, but it can stay dormant. And pasteurization wouldn't kill it and so that can last indefinitely. When people eat it, then it can certainly multiply."But as people cut back on buying products with peanut butter, area Girl Scouts said they hope people don't avoid their cookies.Of the more than 480 people sickened by salmonella, three have been reported in Wisconsin. The cases were reported in Kenosha, Brown and Chippewa counties.Even though the salmonella threat has been traced to a single Peanut Corp. of America plant in Georgia, health officials are urging people to simply toss out any products in their home that contain peanut butter -- with the exception of plain, jarred peanut butter.For more information on recalled peanut butter items, visit this Web site.Meanwhile, at Second Harvest Food Bank, volunteers are working hard inspecting products containing peanut butter and pulling some off the shelves.The Madison food bank distributes to more than 450 nonprofit programs throughout southern Wisconsin, and its director said with increased donations during the holidays, screening is a daunting task. Copyright 2009 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
