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All Peanut Butter Products From Texas Plant Recalled

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0800

The peanut butter salmonella issue grows bigger and bigger daily. Products connected with Peanut Corporation of America are being recalled left and right, and it's not over yet. The Texas Department of State Health Services ordered a recall of all products ever shipped from Peanut Corporation's now-closed plant in Plainview, TX. This plant was inspected after health code violations were found at its Georgia plant. Officials were disgusted to find dead rodents, rodent droppings, and bird feathers in a crawl space above a production area in the Texas plant, which had been operating unlicensed and without an inspection in nearly four years. This is more disturbing news tacked on to a long chain of events that has led to nearly 600 sickened people and nine deaths.

Over 2,000 peanut products have been recalled, making this one of the largest product recalls ever. It sickens me to think that Peanut Corp. owner Stewart Parnell allowed contaminated products to be shipped anyway, saying in an email that "tests discovering the contaminated food were 'costing us huge $$$$$.'" How sad is it that so many people have suffered because of this man's greed? This salmonella incident has also affected people's general opinions of peanut butter, and many are avoiding all peanut butter products for fear of getting sick. Are you?

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Some Peanut Butter-Based Bars Are Safe, Others Are Not

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:30:00 -0800

When it comes to pre-workout snacking, energy bars are up there on my list of favorite quick fixes that get me through my workout. After hearing that some bars have been recalled because they could be tainted with salmonella, I was paranoid to touch any of the bars I had previously purchased. Ignoring the products isn't getting me anywhere, so I've been looking into which ones are safe for me to eat and which should go in the trash, once and for all. Now I can feel OK snacking on certain bars without any sense of salmonella doom.

The FDA developed a handy widget that allows you to scan by product group, and in my case I was interested in snack bars. I was bummed when I first saw LaraBar on the list, but after clicking on the brand name I saw that only one of its products has been affected (Peanut Butter Blisscrisp snack bars). Check out the widget for the items that you should avoid; you'll see familiar names like Clif, Luna, and Zone on the list. See the rundown when you read more.

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Get the Facts About Salmonella

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:00:00 -0800

This salmonella scare is getting out of control. The peanut butter recall has become one of the largest recalls ever, as this week officials expanded the recall to all products derived from the Peanut Corp. of America's Georgia plant in the last two years. There are allegations that the plant was aware of the tainted products before distributing them, and federal investigators discovered problems like roaches and mold at the plant - gross. With all the commotion, let's take a moment to step back and understand what salmonella actually is.

What it is: It's a bacteria that causes an infection in the lining of the small intestine, called salmonella enterocolitis.
How it spreads: Unsanitary food preparation conditions or equipment can lead to food contamination, including undercooked chicken, turkey, or eggs.
How long it lasts: You'll know if you have salmonella food poisoning within eight to 48 hours, and the illness lasts between one and two weeks.

To learn about the symptoms and treatment for salmonella, read more.

Symptoms: Those suffering from salmonella commonly experience abdominal pain or cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and muscle pain. Symptoms usually subside in two to five days.
Treatment: Because persistent diarrhea can cause dehydration, it's important to drink electrolyte solutions to replace fluids. If vomiting prevents you from keeping fluids down, you may need intravenous fluids.

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Have You Been Avoiding Peanut Butter Products Lately?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:30:00 -0800

Who would have thought peanut butter would ever get so much press? The sticky spread is still the center of the latest salmonella scare, and products continue to be pulled from shelves as a precaution. Starbucks is the most recent company to temporarily rid their stores of goods containing peanut butter. Have you taken similar precautionary moves in your own home?

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Which Peanut Butter Products Are Salmonella Safe?

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Manufacturers of peanut butter products are still in a sticky situation with the salmonella outbreak that has been traced to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America. The widespread situation has caused new recalls to be announced left and right, making it tough to keep track of what is and isn't safe to eat. Do you know which products are safe from salmonella? Take the quiz!

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More Peanut Butter Involved in Salmonella Scare

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Last week we learned that peanut butter might be the culprit in the latest salmonella scare. First, King Nut and Parnell's Pride peanut butter were recalled, but now the list grows as more companies pull their products from the shelves. The FDA has traced the tainted peanut butter to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America, which distributes peanut butter and peanut flavor to numerous companies. Since six people have died from salmonella poisoning, the FDA is taking no chances and advising everyone to stay away from all products containing peanut butter including cookies, crackers, cakes, energy bars, and ice cream.

Some known foods to avoid are Little Debbie snacks, Kellogg Keebler crackers, and some Luna, Clif, and ZonePerfect bars. The companies who make Jif, Smuckers, Eagle Brand, and Peter Pan peanut butter said their products are safe.

For a complete list of products involved in the recall, check out the FDA's website.

Is Peanut Butter Spreading Salmonella?

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:10:07 -0800

Last week, yet another salmonella scare swept the nation, and as of today, almost 400 people have been affected. Since September, cases have been found in 42 states, but the majority are focused in California, Ohio, and Minnesota. Although Minnesota officials think the culprit in their state may be King Nut peanut butter, they haven't connected this product to the national outbreak.

Investigators discovered the salmonella in a five-pound container of King Nut peanut butter in a nursing home. This company doesn't make its own peanut butter, but instead orders it from Peanut Corporation of America, based in Lynchburg, VA. King Nut then sells to food-service providers that supply food to hospitals and other institutional facilities, so it's not sold in retail stores. For safety purposes, King Nut has voluntarily recalled its creamy peanut butter sold under the names King Nut and Parnell's Pride with a lot code that begins with the numeral 8.

The CDC, Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration, and state health officials plan to continue the investigation so they can give the public more details about the source of the outbreak. Since the salmonella was found in an open container of peanut butter, cross-contamination may also be a possibility. For more details, check out the FDA's press release.

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E.Coli Testing Kit: A Germ-A-Phobe's Best Friend

FitSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Food recalls seem to be at an all time high this year. From peanut butter to Listerine to pet food, nothing seems to be safe anymore. So while we wait for the FDA to get a handle on the situation, you may want to take matters into your own hands...

The MMS Safe Strips Food Testing Kit ($19.95) contains: Two E.coli test strips, two Salmonella test strips, a bottle of buffer solution and instructions on how to do it. Basically users will be mixing food with distilled water and buffer solution, preferably in a blender. The salmonella test strip produces results in thirty minutes, while the E.coli test takes an hour, so make sure you give it some time before digging in. Buy it from FoodTestingStrips.com.

Fit's Tip: While I think that testing everything you eat may be a bit excessive, even for me, you may want to consider taking a kit along while traveling or think about keeping it around the house in case another spinach recall hits the fan.

Avoiding Peanut Butter? Try These Alternatives

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

This whole peanut butter recall has really put a damper on my peanut-butter-loving life. I know not all peanut butter has been recalled, but truthfully, I've used avoiding peanut butter as an excuse to branch out. One positive outcome from this salmonella scare is that I rediscovered my love for crunchy almond butter, and recently tried walnut butter for the first time.

So don't fret about losing peanut butter. To see the nutritional breakdown of some interestingly tasty peanut-free alternatives read more.

Serving Size = 2 tbsp	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Sunflower Seed Butter	185	15.3	1.6	1	8.8	3	6.3
Sunflower Seed Butter (salted)	185	15.3	1.6	166	8.8	3	6.3
Almond Butter	190	16	1.5	0	6	4	7
Cashew Butter	190	15	3	0	10	2	5
Soy Nut Butter	200	14	2	0	8	2	10
Soy Nut Butter (salted)	200	14	2	150	8	2	10
Macadamia Butter	230	24	4	0	4	3	2
Macadamia Butter With Cashews	214	21	3.4	1	6	2.23	3.7
Walnut Butter With Cashews	205	19	2	0	4	2	5
Hempseed Butter	145	9	5	10	7	1	11
Pumpkin Seed Butter	200	16	3	80	2	2	10
Hazelnut Butter	180	17	1	0	5	3	4
Golden Pea Butter	160	10	1	0	16	2	4

Tell me your favorite peanut butter alternative in the comments sections below.

Healthy Recipe: Easy Whole Grain, Fruit, and Nut Energy Bars

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

The ongoing peanut butter recall has claimed some of my go-to snack bars, but the good news is I've been inspired to get more creative in my kitchen. This recipe for homemade energy bars is truly a cinch and allows you to be as flexible as possible with whatever you have in your cabinets. I used almond butter, chopped dried apricots, and cashews in my batch, but the possibilities are endless.

Next time, I will use a little more nut butter because the honey seemed to overpower its taste, and the bars didn't hold together as well as I would have liked. Other than that, they were delicious and a great pre-workout snack. Eat them straight from the fridge or warm them up before eating for a gooier treat.

To see the recipe, read more.

Easy Whole Grain, Fruit, and Nut Energy Bars
Wellsphere

Ingredients

3 cups puffed whole-grain cereal (e.g., puffed wheat or Kashi)
1/2 cup chopped nuts or seeds (or a combination)
1/2 (or up to 3/4) cup chopped dried fruit (one fruit, or a combination)
3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/3 cup creamy nut or seed butter (e.g. peanut, cashew, almond, soy; natural style is fine)
1/2 cup honey (or brown rice syrup, light molasses, sorghum, or maple syrup)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch square metal baking pan foil; spray with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl mix the cereal, nuts, dried fruit and (optional) flaxseed; set aside.
Place the nut butter and honey in small heavy saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly for about 1 minute until bubbly and smooth.
Pour hot mixture over cereal mixture in bowl, stirring to blend (mix well to coat all of the cereal).
Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Using a large square of wax paper or foil, firmly press mixture down into pan to firmly compact.
Bake until just golden around edges, about 10 minutes.

Cool completely. Remove bars using foil liner and cut into 16 bars or squares.

Makes 16 servings.

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