King Nut Issues Peanut Butter Recall

There has been yet another instance of salmonella contaminating the food supply. The following news release was issued by the FDA. Remember, if you or one of your family are having symptoms of food poisoning after eating this peanut butter, make sure you inform your doctor so that the information will be recorded in any medical record. The symptoms include:

-diarrhea
-fever
-abdominal cramps

The symptoms usually develop within 12-72 hours of exposure and can last 4-7 days.

There are certain antibiotics that are given for salmonella. If you suspect you have been infected, make sure that you receive the correct treatment.

The diagnosis of salmonella poisoning is generally made based on clinical presentation but the definitive diagnosis requires lab analysis of a stool sample. This should be requested from your doctor to document any potential claim.

--Solon, Ohio (January 10, 2009) - King Nut Companies, a distributor of peanut butter manufactured for them by Peanut Corporation of America, today announced a recall of peanut butter distributed under the King Nut label. No other King Nut products are included in this recall.

King Nut took this action as soon as it was informed that salmonella had been found in an open five-pound tub of King Nut peanut butter. King Nut distributes peanut butter only through food service accounts. It is not sold directly to consumers. King Nut does not supply any of the ingredients for the peanut butter distributed under its label. All other King Nut products are safe and not included in this voluntary recall.

"We are very sorry this happened," said Martin Kanan, president and chief executive officer of King Nut Companies. "We are taking immediate and voluntary action because the health and safety of those who use our products is always our highest priority."

"Because we don't manufacture peanut butter, we will do what we can to get this product out of distribution and will work with the manufacturer to inform others of this problem," Kanan said. "We also distribute peanut butter from this manufacturer under the Parnell's Pride brand, although we are not the only distributor. However, we have asked our customers to remove this brand as well."

Kanan said that King Nut began contacting customers immediately to stop distributing all peanut butter with lot codes beginning with "8," and immediately cancelled orders with the manufacturer.
Customers are asked to take all King Nut peanut butter and Parnell's Pride peanut butter distributed by King Nut out of distribution immediately. For more information, go to www.kingnut.com.

Stacy Little
John Leach

If you have other questions you can contact us at

stacyl@oqlaw.com or johnl@oqlaw.com