MEDIA RELEASE

The state Department of Health is advising the public not to eat peanut products or feed them to their pets if they are unsure whether the product has been recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

A total of five cases linked with the nationwide outbreak of salmonellosis have been identified in Hawaii. Although none of the known Hawaii cases of Salmonella Typhimurium has had a verifiable exposure to any of the peanut products identified on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recall list, the DOH is advising consumers to take precautions.

“If you have a peanut product on the recall list we recommend the product be discarded,” said Lynn Nakasone, chief of the DOH Food and Drug Branch. “We also advise that you refrain from eating other peanut products such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream until you are sure those products are not part of this nationwide recall. DOH is concerned that consumers are not aware how broad the recall of peanut products has become and urges everyone to check the product recall list thoroughly and often.”

A list of recalled peanut products can be found on the DOH Web site at www.hawaii.gov/health by clicking on the FDA search tool on the right side of the page. Or, visit the FDA Web site at www.fda.gov or the Centers for Disease Control Web site at www.cdc.gov for more information.

Consumers also may call FDA’s information line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-7233-3663) or CDC’s consumer information hotline staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).

An outbreak of more than 600 illnesses of salmonellosis nationwide has led to a recall of many peanut-containing products. To date, more than 2,100 products in 17 categories have been voluntarily recalled by more than 200 companies, and the list continues to grow. Health inspectors are visually checking store shelves to ensure recalled products are removed from sale.

Salmonellosis is the illness caused by various strains of Salmonella bacteria. Persons infected with Salmonella may develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days and most persons recover without treatment. However, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. People who think they may have become ill from eating peanut products are advised to contact their physician.