Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

February 22, 2007 issue

Public Health Advisory: Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak

Appalachian District Health Department, in partnership with NC Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has issued a public health advisory regarding the outbreak of Salmonella/Tennessee that has been linked to Great Value and Peter Pan peanut butter with product code number beginning with 2111. To date, there have been 288 confirmed cases nationwide and 39 states have been involved, including North Carolina.

Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter should contact their healthcare provider to seek medical attention and should call Watauga County Health Department at 828-264-6635 before discarding their peanut butter.

Common symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after being infected. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most recover from salmonella without treatment. The illness may be more severe in the elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems.