Peter Pan Peanut Butter Recall Attorneys in Seattle, Washington

As consumers, we expect the products we buy to be safe, particularly when they are placed on the supermarket shelves. As a result of salmonella contamination, on February 14th, 2007, manufacturers issued a limited Great Value and comprehensive Peter Pan peanut butter recall. Our attorneys in Seattle, Washington are ready to help you recover damages if you or a loved one has suffered from salmonella poisoning after eating tainted peanut butter.

• The Peter Pan Peanut Butter Recall
• What is Salmonella?
• Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning
• Salmonella History
• FDA Consumer Advice
• What's Being Done
• Recovering Damages

The Peter Pan Peanut Butter Recall

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised people not to eat from any jar of Peter Pan peanut butter that has been purchased since October of 2004. The FDA also says Great Value peanut butter with a product code beginning with 2-1-1-1, found on the jar's lid, and purchased since October of 2004, should not be consumed. These brands carry a risk of salmonella contamination, which is a bacterium that causes illness. These products were all manufactured at the ConAgra Foods plant in Sylvester, Georgia. Great Value peanut butter produced at other manufacturing plants is not affected by the recall.

Hundreds of salmonella cases have been reported in states all across the nation, including Washington, since the outbreak in August of 2006. The Centers for Disease Control report that product testing has confirmed the outbreak strain in opened canisters of peanut butter, which had been in the presence of individuals who later became ill.

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What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a germ that is part of a group of bacteria which can cause diarrheal illness. The germs are typically transmitted from the feces of humans or animals. It is traditionally contracted by ingesting foods contaminated with animal feces. Thorough cooking and proper cleanliness of food handlers often greatly reduces the risk of salmonella poisoning. The cause of the contamination at the ConAgra plant is still under investigation.

Our Peter Pan peanut butter recall attorneys at the Seattle, Washington firm of Phillips & Webster can help you to file a personal injury lawsuit if you have been treated for salmonella poisoning due to the recent outbreak. Contact us today and we will review your case.

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Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning

What may initially feel like the flu could be something much worse, and far more dangerous. Salmonella poisoning can lead to serious health conditions, and can even be fatal. One or more of the following symptoms may indicate salmonella poisoning:

• Fever
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Dehydration

Symptoms usually develop within one to three days after ingestion of the contaminated product and usually last between four and seven days. The elderly, infants, and those with weakened immune systems may be more severely affected. More serious cases of salmonella poisoning may require treatment with antibiotics.

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Salmonella History

Officials with the Centers for Disease Control believe this to be the first salmonella outbreak involving peanut butter. Salmonella has been a documented cause of illness for more than a century. Annually, about 40,000 people in the United States are stricken with salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, and about 600 people die from the infection each year.

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FDA Consumer Advice

The FDA is continuing its warning not to consume any Peter Pan peanut butter, or Great Value peanut butter with a product code starting with 2-1-1-1 on the jar lid, purchased since October of 2004. Great Value peanut butter is the brand sold at Wal-Mart. In addition, the FDA advises:

• All Great Value and Peter Pan peanut butter involved in the recall should be thrown out.
• If consumers are unsure whether the product is part of the recall, it should be discarded.
• Consumers who have eaten the brands of peanut butter affected by the recall and are experiencing symptoms of salmonella poisoning should contact a health care professional immediately.
• Consumers who have a jar of the recalled peanut butter and have become ill after ingestion should contact state or local health authorities and file a report.
• Individuals who are in a poor state of health, or those with weakened immune systems, are prone to salmonella invading the bloodstream, which can cause life-threatening infections. These individuals should seek medical attention immediately if they have ingested the products in question.

If you have been affected by the peanut butter recall, the attorneys at our Washington firm may be able to help you recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. Contact Phillips & Webster today for a free consultation.

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What's Being Done

Since February 13th, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration has been actively investigating what led to the possible salmonella contamination of some Great Value and all Peter Pan peanut butter. It was at that time that the FDA was notified by the Centers for Disease Control and state health departments of a possible salmonella outbreak in individuals who had consumed certain canisters of Great Value and Peter Pan peanut butter. The recall was issued by product-maker ConAgra on February 14th, 2007. The initial recall was for Great Value products with a batch code of 2-1-1-1, and all Peter Pan products purchased since May of 2006. However, on March 9th, 2007, the FDA extended the recall back to October of 2004. Food safety organizations all over the world have been notified of the recall. A team of scientists and investigators has been sent to the ConAgra plant in Georgia to conduct a full inspection. The FDA and other agencies continue to track possible salmonella cases, including those involving contaminated peanut butter.

ConAgra has halted production and is destroying all affected products in its possession. ConAgra advises consumers to destroy all Peter Pan peanut butter and any canister of Great Value peanut butter that has a product code beginning with 2-1-1-1, which can be found on the jar lid.

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Recovering Damages

Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that factories and ingredients are free of contaminants that could infect the food we buy and make us sick. The limited Great Value and comprehensive Peter Pan peanut butter recall of 2007 has had ramifications across the globe as hundreds of people have fallen ill from salmonella poisoning. Our peanut butter recall attorneys in Washington, serving Seattle and surrounding areas, are dedicated to recovering damages for individuals who have become sick from tainted products. The lawyers at our firm can pursue compensation in areas including:

• Medical expenses (both past and future)
• Lost wages (both past and future)
• Pain and suffering

As a paying consumer, it is your right to expect that the food you buy is safe to eat. If you or a loved one has been treated for salmonella poisoning due to the limited Great Value and comprehensive Peter Pan peanut butter recall, our attorneys in the Seattle area can help.

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Contact Us

The firm of Phillips & Webster is dedicated to the pursuit of compensation for victims in cases of product liability and food contamination. The limited Great Value and comprehensive Peter Pan peanut butter recall is ongoing. Our attorneys in the Seattle, Washington area can review your case if you have become sick from eating contaminated peanut butter. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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