Karen’s Opinion

Petsmart has put out a warning about the dog biscuits they sell that contain peanut butter. Petsmart announced it is recalling the biscuits they sell that used the peanut butter from Peanut Corporation of America. While the risk to our pets is minimal, there is risk to humans from handling these products. It is important for people to wash their hands–and make sure children wash their hands–before and, especially, after feeding treats to pets.

From the FDA website:

January 23, 2009: A combination of epidemiological analysis and laboratory testing by state officials in Minnesota and Connecticut, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have enabled FDA to confirm that the sources of the outbreak of illnesses caused by Salmonella Typhimurium are peanut butter and peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at its Blakely, Georgia processing plant.

Peanut butter is sold by PCA in bulk containers ranging in size from five (5) to 1,700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. Neither of these products is sold directly to consumers.

However, through its investigation, FDA has determined that PCA distributed potentially contaminated product to more than 70 consignee firms, for use as an ingredient in hundreds of different products, such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream. Companies all over the country that received product from PCA have issued voluntary recalls of their products.

I feel so sorry for the Peanut Corporation of America. They are a family owned business just like ours. I imagine that this is devastating to their company. I wonder what happened.

I did read where peanut butter Girl Scout cookies are safe. At least we don’t have to give those up.