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CONAGRA (Peter Pan Plant) Work To Protect Public

February 1, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to risk of Salmonella contamination. The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number "2111." Both the Peter Pan and Great Value brands are manufactured in a single facility employing 132 people in Georgia’s Second Congressional District in Sylvester, Georgia by ConAgra Foods.

Congressman Sanford Bishop, Jr., reacting to the news, said, “I am concerned that peanut butter from our local plant in Sylvester may be contaminated with Salmonella; however, I am very pleased at how quickly ConAgra Foods, which we call the ‘Peter Pan Plant,’ has cooperated with the FDA to ensure that the health and welfare of the public is protected.”

ConAgra has voluntarily recalled all varieties of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter beginning with Product Code 2111. In addition, the company has a hold on all products in the plant and has ceased production until the exact cause of contamination is identified.

Yesterday evening, the FDA sent a team to Sylvester to test air and product samples to conclusively determine if the Salmonella outbreak did in fact originate from the ConAgra facility. ConAgra, in its own random product and environmental testing for Salmonella, never found evidence of contamination that correspond with the product dates that caused illness. However, of the 85% of people who reported falling ill, 76% reported consuming Peter Pan peanut butter. Results of the FDA’s tests are expected to be available on Monday.

Congressman Bishop stated further, “We’ve been assured by ConAgra that, no matter the results of the FDA testing, it is undergoing the proper measures to keep people safe and remain in operation.” If consumers have any Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter in their home that has been purchased since May 2006, they should discard it.

Symptoms of food borne illness caused by Salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Individuals who have recently eaten Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.