Peanut butter recalls creep: crackers, nutrition bars...now dog biscuits
Filed under: Food, Shopping, Health
The peanut butter recall crept into pet foods today when PetSmart announced it was voluntarily recalling some peanut butter biscuits because they used the peanut butter from Peanut Corporation of America, where the FDA says they've traced the salmonella outbreak.
It's weird to think of something hard like dog biscuits having salmonella, which I normally think of in undercooked chicken and other fresh, raw ingredients. Some of the human products on the recall list seem unlikely, too: Keebler crackers, Clif Bars, NutriSystem granola bars (peanut butter flavor only, for all of those, of course.) Aren't all these products baked?
The scarier thing about these recalls is it reminds us about industrial production and the far-flung distribution of ingredients. Naturally, it's a little confusing. The FDA clearly spells out that the peanut butter you buy in a jar on the shelf isn't recalled, but no one feels quite safe or sure with that. Today I was in my company cafeteria at the sandwich line and two women were looking askance at the peanut butter, discussing if it was safe or if they should alert the staff to the imminent danger. (They decided not to bother.)
The company only makes industrial size peanut butter. They smallest size peanut butter they sell is five pounds and the biggest is 1,700 pounds. Their paste can be sold by the tanker.
But if this is like other recalls, we'll panic about this particular product. Then we'll go back to forgetting about where our food comes from.
The scarier thing about these recalls is it reminds us about industrial production and the far-flung distribution of ingredients. Naturally, it's a little confusing. The FDA clearly spells out that the peanut butter you buy in a jar on the shelf isn't recalled, but no one feels quite safe or sure with that. Today I was in my company cafeteria at the sandwich line and two women were looking askance at the peanut butter, discussing if it was safe or if they should alert the staff to the imminent danger. (They decided not to bother.)
The company only makes industrial size peanut butter. They smallest size peanut butter they sell is five pounds and the biggest is 1,700 pounds. Their paste can be sold by the tanker.
But if this is like other recalls, we'll panic about this particular product. Then we'll go back to forgetting about where our food comes from.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
1-22-2009 @ 2:52PM
Colin said...
Ok I am beginning to think there is more to this recall then a "salmonella outbreak" do you think this could be the work of a "Bio-terrorist""??
Reply
1-23-2009 @ 7:35AM
girlytug72 said...
this is d second time of recall 4 peanut butter
1-23-2009 @ 8:40AM
David said...
I think its ex president Jimmy Carter.
2-09-2009 @ 10:32AM
Luciferspants said...
LMAO...yes, it's a Snack Attack!!! Everyone get out your plastic wrap and duct tape!
1-25-2009 @ 9:08AM
Doug said...
It does sound abit like it eh Colin? Much like the melamine(?) scare,... look how many products use it. Kind of odd too the melamine ordeal was in China, where human rights aren't tops on the list,... they probably purposely experimented on their own people.
1-25-2009 @ 9:50AM
sweetrosegreen said...
All the more reason to watch what you eat!.. Best way to do that is to cook for yourself! I found this hilarious cookbook called "Get in the Kitchen, BIT@HES!" (bitchcooks.com)- It has made cooking fun again!
1-25-2009 @ 10:39AM
kulpsix said...
Yes, Colin I do believe it could be bioterriorist. I believe that slowly but surely the evil people who hate Americans are trying to destroy us within. If you really think about it and take all that's been happening in this country, we are in great danger.
1-22-2009 @ 3:26PM
bill said...
Not bio-terrorists. It is the aliens that have been abducting us for years and implanting mind control devices in the abductees before releasing them back here. Aliens know that dogs are able to detect people with the implants so they went after dog food first to poision all of the dogs. When that was discovered they switched to milk products to try to kill of a generation of humans. Now they are back to peanut butter (again) just when we thought it was safe again and now it is including...of all things....dog biscuits. I say , if we see an unidentified flying object...shoot it down first, ask questions later.
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 4:00PM
Jennilou said...
Oh my I believe you are missing some brain cells Bill lol
1-23-2009 @ 2:22AM
KATHY said...
that's funny bill, but who knows, you are right about the dogs tho, they know good from evil, something to think about or lol .
1-23-2009 @ 9:07AM
James said...
I think it was Caroline Kennedys reason for droping out of her Senate take over.
1-25-2009 @ 8:49AM
jojo said...
OMG TO FUNNY BILL MADE ME SPILL MY COFFEE.........ALL OVER MY PEANUT BUTTER TOAST.. LOL
1-22-2009 @ 3:39PM
bill said...
Ut Oh....it's the men in black. Gotta make a quick exit before they
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 3:43PM
Fred said...
George W. Bush and the Bush Administration did not do it's job on anything, so food safety is just one more thing to add to the never ending list of failure.
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 4:47PM
Obama Sucks said...
Blaming this on President Bush is so freaking childish.
Hey Freddy, your mommie is calling you for a time out. Take a nap you ignorant child.
1-22-2009 @ 6:54PM
Sandy said...
Please! Stop blaming Bush. He DID PLENTY to keep us safe. If you think Obama will do better, then please explain why he made his first executive order to be CLOSING Gitmo!!!! Hmmm... They aren't even sure where those terrorists will go once the prison is closed! Yeah..Stop blaming Bush ..Obama will make his own share of mistakes... 2 days in the office and he already made his first one!
1-22-2009 @ 3:50PM
Marti said...
Fred, puh-leaze!!! Who are you going to blame when we have food scares during Obama's administration?
Don't blame the president, blame the companies making these products!
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 3:58PM
Kristy said...
You people are "nuts"!!
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 4:08PM
DKK said...
I agree Kristy. They should be recalled, too! ;)
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 9:03PM
CJ said...
I just bought a new jar of peanut butter from the supermarket that I shop in who makes this one. I am not going to eat it yet..
as im waiting to see if this is recalled .. This was once recalled i believe a year or two ago...anyone remember?? just stay away from peanut butter until this passes next week it will be something else!!! what i think needs to be done is better FDA testing...etc
If you think about it what can we eat? things that grow in the ground are not good for us meat chicken fish no good :( whats left milk from cows no good lol .. you get the idea...
God Bless This Country
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