Headline Grabbing Peanut Butter Recall Involves Fewer than 3,000 Jars

EMSL Analytical provides food testing services for Salmonella and other pathogens to protect consumers.

Cinnaminson, NJ

Last week The Washington Post published a report on the peanut butter recall that has made national headlines this month. According to the article, fewer than 3,000 jars of the peanut butter that may have been contaminated made it to store shelves. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is monitoring the situation for possible cases of illness from the peanut butter, but so far none have been reported.

Salmonella is a Gram-negative bacterium that is found worldwide in warm and cold-blooded animals, including humans. Infections from the bacteria can be caused by eating contaminated foods and by transmission from animals to humans.

According to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) fact sheet, “The Salmonella family includes over 2,300 serotypes of bacteria which are one-celled organisms too small to be seen without a microscope. Two types, Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium are the most common in the United States and account for half of all human infections. Strains that cause no symptoms in animals can make people sick, and vice versa. If present in food, it does not usually affect the taste, smell, or appearance of the food. The bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of infected animals and humans.”

EMSL Analytical, one of the nation’s largest food pathogen testing laboratories, has extensive expertise in testing for Salmonella and other dangerous pathogens. “Exposure to Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within 12 to 72 hours of exposure,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL. “The infection, known as Salmonellosis, typically lasts from 4 to 7 days. Some infected people require hospitalization and there is the possibility that the infection can spread from the intestines into the blood stream and beyond. EMSL can help manufacturers, food safety professionals and the general public test for this deadly organism.”

To learn more about Salmonella and other food pathogen testing services please visit www.FoodTestingLab.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of food, environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joe Frasca

Senior Vice President, Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Contact via E-mail