By John Peters
Editor

Nearly a half-dozen area residents are among those who may be affected by a nationwide outbreak of salmonella contaminated peanut butter.
The Center for Disease Control reported as of Feb. 15, the center’s last update, that 290 people in 38 states had been sickened after consuming the contaminated peanut butter. Fifteen confirmed cases have been reported in North Carolina, according to the CDC.
The CDC and media outlets are reporting all Peter Pan brand peanut butter, and Great Value brand peanut butter with a product code beginning with “2111” stamped on the lid, are being recalled for possible contamination.
Monday, officials with the health departments in Warren and Halifax counties had no confirmed cases, but there may be as many as five suspected cases in Halifax County.
Patricia Harris, nursing supervisor with the Halifax Health Department, said on Monday two people have reported being sick, and their physician suspected salmonella as the culprit. In those cases, she said the patients are being asked to bring in their peanut butter, and the health department will label and store the product while the patient under goes follow-up tests.
“If their physician does a stool culture that comes back with this particular type of salmonella … then we will contact the state and see if they want us to send (the peanut butter samples) to them.”
She said Halifax Regional Medical Center has also reported two suspected cases, but those have not yet been officially reported to the health department.
Lynda Smith, health director at the department, said there was one additional call from a local resident who had been to his physician and reported his sickness may have been related to tainted peanut butter, but Smith said as of Monday afternoon her department had not yet received the peanut butter or confirmation from the person’s physician.
Both women asked that people do not bring their peanut butter to the health department.
Only if someone has been sick, has visited a hospital or their doctor, and the involved physicians suspect salmonella, should someone call the health department about bringing in the affected peanut butter.
“We’re not just taking jars from anybody,” Smith said.
Locally, area grocery stores have pulled the affected peanut butter off their shelves and are offering a full refund to customers who return purchased peanut butter.
The North Carolina Department of Public Health has issued a series of recommendations for people who may have purchased Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter with the product code that begins “2111” stamped on the lid.
The department said the symptoms of the infection are sudden onset of headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, fever, and sometimes vomiting. If they have these, they should consult their physician.
People with the affected peanut butter who are not sick should stop eating it and discard the jar immediately. Anyone who is sick should visit their physician, and then follow his or her instructions on treatment and whether to discard the peanut butter or take it to the local health department.
Any individuals who want a refund for the jar can return the affected peanut butter to the story where they purchased it, or they can send it to producer ConAgra for reimbursement. The address is ConAgra Foods, P.O. Box 57078, Irvine, Calf., 92619-7078.