42 salmonella cases now reported in Massachusetts
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of Article: http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/regional/x497800924/42-salmonella-cases-now-reported-in-Massachusetts
By Alice C. Elwell
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jan 21, 2009 @ 01:20 PM
BROCKTON —
The number of people in Massachusetts
diagnosed with salmonella poisoning has grown to 42, and the list of foods
that may have been contaminated by the outbreak at a Georgia
peanut plant continues to grow.
Pet products are now among the suspect items, which already
includes cookies, snack bars, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream.
John Jacob, spokesman for the Department of Public Health, said the most
recent cases of salmonella poisoning in the state are from Essex and Hampton
counties.
Jacob said there have been a total of three cases in Plymouth,
three in Bristol, four in Norfolk,
six in Essex, one in Suffolk, two in Barnstable, eight in Hampton, 12 in Middlesex, three in
Worchester counties. The ages of the people ranges from 1 year to 91 years
old, and the split is even among men and women, with 21 case for each.
Production has halted at the Peanut Corporation of America Georgia plant,
said company spokesperson George Clark. He said it has not been determined
how the bacteria got into the plant, but that the U.S. Food & Drug
Administration has launched a nationwide investigation using the plant’s
customer distribution list.
The outbreak has been linked to peanut paste made by PAC, which is sold to
manufactures and used as an ingredient in various food products.
The most recent list of recalled products includes:
-- Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits with the PetSmart
label;
-- Nutrition bars sold under the label of Clif Bar,
Luna, Mojo and Nature's Path Optimum Energy Bars
-- Ready Pac Foods
-- Country Maid Inc, Classic Breaks Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
For a complete list go to
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html.
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