NCA has issued a press release on the recent and ongoing salmonella-contaminated peanut butter recall. Here is a brief snippet. You can read the full release here.
In response to an investigation into a recent outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to peanut butter and peanut paste, the National Confectioners Association has developed a table for consumers to check the status of their favorite confectionery products. The contamination has been linked to the Peanut Corporation of America whose products are sold and used within a variety of industries. While some confectionery manufacturers, especially makers of health and nutrition bars, do purchase from the source, the majority of peanut, peanut butter and peanut paste containing candies are safe for consumption at this time.
The FDA is keeping a comprehensive list of the products recalled that are not safe for consumption on its Web site, while NCA’s table lists products containing peanut butter that are safe to eat. More than 90 percent of commercially available candy products using peanut butter as an ingredient are free from contamination.
It pays to read things like this so we can all be better-informed consumers. Know the food you buy and be aware of situations like this. As always, we will report any new findings on our site so everyone can stay up-to-date.
We have solicited information from our member companies and gotten a list together of official statements. Please refer to this list when considering eating your favorite peanut butter-containing confection. Note that this list will be updated as I receive more information, so check back often, and keep your eye also on the FDA’s page on the issue.
Also be aware that a company not listed on our site simply did not return any information to us. This may be for many reasons, including ongoing investigation or even lack of peanut butter as an ingredient. If you do not find a manufacturer’s name listed anywhere, please contact that company directly for information.
As always, be vigilant with your choices in what you consume. Read labels and use your best judgment.
For the latest information on product recalls, please reference the FDA’s official site for this issue. We are getting some information in about what’s safe, and will post that soon, but the FDA has the flip side – what has been recalled.
The story of peanut butter and salmonella is developing quickly, as you know, so expect this page to get updated often as things progress with ongoing investigations. Here is what we know so far:
- Peanut Corporation of America has issued a voluntary recall on some of their products because of contamination with salmonella.
- PCA is not the only supplier of peanut butter and paste but is the only one we know of with this issue.
- Peanut butter is a delicious ingredient in many candy products.
Given all this, we are soliciting and looking for information from candy companies that use peanut butter or paste in their products and will be posting a table of specific manufacturers’ information as soon as we can get it. Several of our members have already informed us they manufacture their own peanut butter or their peanut butter is sourced outside the factory but is completely safe. We will post a link here at CandyDishBlog.com as soon as we have more information. I know this is not very informative, but we wanted you to know that more information is on the way.
Peanut Butter by clada74.
Melamine was found in chocolate gold coins distributed at Costco stores in Canada. There has not been any reported in the US but we have an official statement on this to share.
From NCA’s web site:
- The NCA’s position is clear: any candy product, regardless of its country of origin, must meet the same stringent safety standards that U.S. products meet.
- Candy imported from China accounts for less than one percent (0.7%) of all confectionery sold in the United States.
- Chocolate products produced in North America do not contain milk or milk products imported from China.
- NCA recommends consumers:
- Discard any White Rabbit confectionery product imported from China (White Rabbit is the brand name of a white, chewy, taffy-like candy).
- Be aware that a small shipment of chocolate gold coins in Canada was found to contain melamine. At this time, the product appears to have been only available in Canada where a recall is underway and the majority of the product has been reclaimed.
If you have questions about melamine and its possible health impacts, you can read more about it on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Web site.
Remember – the source of this issue is contaminated Chinese milk products. One good way of dealing with the uncertainty of whether your favorite product is safe is to go to the manufacturer’s web sites to see if they have product news that might address your concerns. If you still have doubts about a particular product, you can contact the company and they will be happy to give you the full scoop. Not all chocolate products from China are bad or tainted. Many have been tested already and been shown to be fine.
I just got this in my email a few minutes ago. We have had a lot of people ask if chocolate and other confectionery products were safe. People are pretty darned scared about this melamine problem we have been hearing so much about in the news, and for good reason.
Here is NCA’s official statement on the issue:
Chocolate makers abide by strict government regulations in order to ensure the quality and safety of chocolate products sold in the US. Last week the Food and Drug Administration announced that the agency has expanded its testing of food products imported from China. NCA agrees with this action; all candy products sold in the US, regardless of country of origin, must meet the same stringent safety standards.
Chocolate products produced in North America do not source milk or milk products from China. Consumers can continue to enjoy their favorite chocolates knowing they are as wholesome and safe as ever.
However, there have been some candy recalls. QFCO, Inc. issued a recall for their White Rabbit candies on Friday due to possible melamine contamination. From their press release on the issue: “Consumers who have purchased White Rabbit Candy are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or discard it in their trash. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (650) 697-6633.”
Cadbury has had a similar recall of its Chinese-made products but not for any of their products distributed in North America. The problem products were reportedly only distributed in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australia.
The bottom line is that if you live in North America and buy products made there, you are fine. If you are concerned, one way to be extra vigilant is to turn a package over to see where it was manufactured and whether it contains milk. Right now it is milk-based products from China that are highly suspect. Milk-based products from other countries can be assumed to be safe.
