Peanut product recalls affecting everyone

Seattle - The peanut butter recall has affected products from all areas of the consumer spectrum. The list of recalled items hit 125 within the first several weeks after the recall, and it has continued to grow since then. The list of affected products ranges from energy bars and ice cream to pet food, as fears of peanut butter containing salmonella continued to spread.

PetSmart was forced to recall seven different kinds of Grreat Choice dog biscuits from its shelves. The peanut paste used for the biscuits comes from the Peanut Corporation of America, the main company indicted as the cause of the crisis, who has already been forced to recall the containers of peanut paste it normally sells to pet food manufacturers after they were discovered to contain salmonella. No cases of illness have been reported in connection to the dog biscuits, but the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has recommended that pet owners cease using peanut butter or related products as treats until further notice.

Other major companies forced to recall food include Kellogg, who had to recall many of their Austin and Keebler crackers and cookies. Weight loss group NutriSystem was forced to pull granola bars that contained peanut butter.

The recall isn’t just affecting peanut butter purchasers; food banks are also seeing a hit from the recall, forced to track down and remove all affected products from their shelves. The San Diego Food Bank recruited students to help read through all its product labels to track down any peanut-connected products.

No types of jar peanut butter have been indicated to carry salmonella, and many major producers of peanut-related products, such as Hershey’s, have been cleared by the FDA.

Nearly 600 have people in at least 43 states have reported cases of salmonella poisoning from the affected products. At least six people have died.