Mass Tort 
Peanut Butter Salmonella Food Poisoning
![Peanut butter and jelly]](../images/dv1897027_peanut_butter.jpg)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and as of Monday, January 12, 2009, 410 people in 43 states were infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are among the states with 13 and 12 respectively as well as Ohio with 53 (the most incidents) and West Virginia with two.
The one common thing that these sickened people ate was peanut butter. The peanut butter was not sold directly to consumers from grocery stores but from foodservice distributing to institutions like long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools, universities, restaurants, delis, cafeterias, and bakeries. The most salmonella infections seem to be clustered at long-term care facilities, hospitals, and schools.
The illnesses can be traced from September 3, 2008 to December 31, 2008. The information is not conclusive but 18 percent of the people were hospitalized and the salmonella infection may have contributed to three deaths so far.
The Minnesota Department of Health suggested King Nut creamy peanut butter as a likely source of Salmonella infections among many ill persons in Minnesota. King Nut only distributes peanut butter to seven states and does not make the actual peanut butter. The Peanut Corporation makes the actual peanut butter which is sold under many labels and distributors.
Salmonella is a form of food poisoning. According to the Food & Drug Administration, most persons infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most recover without treatment. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have severe illnesses. The diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In this scenario, the salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.
Have you or a family member been sickened or hospitalized by peanut butter salmonella food poisoning? Has a family member died from peanut putter salmonella? Please contact a product negligence law firm to find out what your legal options are.
