Peanut Butter News

Full Story at money.cnn.com

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The maker of several over-the-counter drugs, including Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl, announced a broad-based recall of these and other drugs Friday after receiving complaints of an “unusual moldy, musty or mildew-like” odor.

The recall drew the FDA’s wrath on Johnson and Johnson (JNJ, Fortune 500) for not reacting quickly to customer complaints and its failure to fix the problem. The company has struggled to resolve the issue since it was first reported in 2008.

Full Story At CBS News

(CBS/AP) A Central California company is recalling about 1 million pounds of pistachios over concerns of possible salmonella contamination.

Food safety officials are looking through Setton Farms’ plant in rural Tulare County to see if it could lead them to the source of the contamination.

The recalls began last Friday when the Georgia Nut Company recalled its Kraft Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix after some samples tested positive for salmonella. Setton Farms has started a separate recall of roasted pistachios, and grocery operator Kroger also has recalled some pistachio products.

No illnesses have been reported.

Full Story At CBS News

(CBS/AP) In the wake of a deadly salmonella outbreak, the government may designate peanut butter as a high-risk food, according to a top health official.

Dr. Stephen Sundlof, the head of the FDA’s food safety center, told lawmakers that peanut butter may be singled out for special attention as agency inspectors will start routinely collecting samples of peanut butter and other foods for bacterial testing whenever they go into a facility. Currently that’s done only if officials suspect a problem.

Full Story At yahoo.com

WASHINGTON – They say nothing is more wholesome than peanut butter, but the government may soon ask companies that make the gooey treat to prove it.

The salmonella outbreak is starting to change the way the government oversees the safety of peanut butter and other foods, health officials tell Congress.

Dr. Stephen Sundlof of the Food and Drug Administration told lawmakers Wednesday that agency inspectors will start to routinely collect samples for bacterial testing whenever they go into a facility. Currently that’s done only if officials suspect a problem.

Full Story At msnbc.com

WASHINGTON – A century ago, at the dawn of food safety laws, inspection amounted to little more than opening a bin of flour and looking for something wiggly.

It’s a different story now.

Solving the case of the poison processed peanuts took marathon work by federal scientists, clues in Canada, Oregon, Ohio and Connecticut, and a breakthrough in Minnesota at the hands of public health hotshots known as Team Diarrhea.

Full Stroy At Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON – As far back as 2007, salmonella-laced products were shipped by a Georgia peanut company that knew the peanuts probably were tainted and sometimes after tests confirmed that contamination, inspection records show.

Federal law forbids producing or shipping foods under conditions that could make it harmful to consumers’ health.