Health Advisory
MULTI-STATE FOODBORNE OUTBREAK OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM LINKED TO PEANUT BUTTER

Delaware’s Division of Public Health would like to advise health care providers that a multi-state foodborne disease outbreak of one or more DNA matched strains of Salmonella typhimurium has been statistically associated with peanut butter distributed under the “King Nut” brand name. This product is sold only to food service suppliers and institutional accounts, and is not available to consumers from retail stores.

Patients presenting for health care with gastrointestinal illness symptoms, including fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain 12-72 hours after consuming the suspect food product should have a stool culture ordered to rule out infection with the outbreak strain of Salmonella typhimurium.

Delaware consumers who have consumed peanut butter from September 3, 2008 to present in educational facilities, hospitals or long term care facilities and are experiencing any of these symptoms should be advised to contact their health care providers. All Salmonella infections should be reported to DPH Bureau of Epidemiology at 1-888-295-5156.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 399 cases of illness due to PFGE-matched Salmonella typhimurium in 42 states have been identified from September 3 to present. To date, no cases have been identified in Delaware.

On January 10, the distributor of the suspect product has announced a voluntary recall of all peanut butter distributed under the “King Nut” and “Parnell’s Pride” brand name with Lot Codes beginning in “8.” Food service operators and institutions have been advised to immediately stop using the product, pending further laboratory analysis. The firm press release can be found at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/kingnut01_09.html

Further information regarding this outbreak can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typh0109/010909.html