******Updated 2/16/09********Please refer to our latest blog post opens in a new tab for updates on the PCA recall.******Updated 1-29-09*******The Peanut Butter Corporation of American (PCA) has now expanded their recall to include all types of peanuts and peanut products processed in its Blakely, Georgia, facility since January 1, 2007. This greatly expands the scope of this health issue and every manufacturer of peanut-containing foods, including us, will need to re-examine their products.Please note: While new research is being conducted, we will not be able to answer questions about specific peanut related products. Please refer to our new blog post opens in a new tab for updates to the situation as they become available. Additionally, our answers to previous comments on this blog post about the recall are not necessarily accurate any longer given the new developments.*****Updated 1/28/09 a.m.*****Added the following products to the recall list:Uncle Eddies Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate-Chip CookiesUncle Eddies Individual Vegan Peanut Butter CookiesUncle Eddies Individual Organic Vegan Peanut Butter CookiesSunRidge Chocolate Energy Bar (sold in bulk)SunRidge Energy Nuggets****Updated 1/24/09 a.m.****Last night we announced a recall of our Whole Foods Carob Energee Nuggets opens in a new tab in four states (California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date, but our product supplier, Marin Foods, notified us of the potential for contamination of Salmonella. The product comes in a nine-ounce, clear plastic package with a label reading "Whole Foods Carob Energee Nuggets" and bears a UPC of 999482-000274. All lot codes are being recalled. If you purchased Whole Foods Carob Energee Nuggets, please return them to the store for a full refund.***Updated 1/23/09 a.m.***Added additional products to recall list:Dancing Stars' Chunks of Energy Carob/Hawaiian Spirulina and High Country GorpCan Do Kid Chocolate Crunch and Cookies & Cream Bars **Updated 1/22/09 p.m.**Clarification: Many manufacturers receive their supply of ingredients from multiple vendors. Therefore, not all products listed below are recalled in total, but rather specific lot or batch numbers made on certain dates. Please link through to our Product Recalls opens in a new tab page to get more specifics directly from each manufacturer.*Updated 1/22/09 a.m.*Added additional products to recall list: ThinkThin Dark Chocolate and Chocolate Mudslide Bars You've probably heard by now that due to cases involving salmonella poisoning, the FDA has warned U.S. consumers "to postpone eating commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter-containing products and institutionally-served peanut butter until further information becomes available about which products may be affected."Before we get into exactly what this means and what Whole Foods Market is doing about it, we wanted to share the latest safety recall information on products sold in our stores.Recalled products we sell:*Note: Many manufacturers receive their supply of ingredients from multiple vendors. Therefore, not all products listed below are recalled in total, but rather specific lot or batch numbers made on certain dates. Please link through to our Product Recalls opens in a new tab page to get more specifics directly from each manufacturer.
Can Do Kid Chocolate Crunch and Cookies & Cream Bars *** added 1/23/09
Clif Bars: Crunchy Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, Peanut Toffee Buzz and Variety Pack
Clif Builder's Bar: Peanut Butter and Variety Pack
Clif Kid ZBaR: Peanut Butter and Variety Pack
Dancing Stars' Chunks of Energy Carob/Hawaiian Spirulina and High Country Gorp *** added 1/23/09
Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars
JamFrakas Peanut Butter BlissCrisp snack bars
LÄRABAR Peanut Butter Cookie
Luna Bars: Nutz Over Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cookie and Mini's Variety pack
MOJO Bar: Honey Roasted Peanut, Mixed Nuts, Mountain Mix, and Peanut Butter Pretzel
MOJO Dipped: Chocolate Peanut, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Fruit & Nut
Nature's Path Optimum Energy Bars, Peanut Butter Flavor
SunRidge Chocolate Energy Bar (sold in bulk) *** Added 1/28/09
SunRidge Energy Nuggets *** Added 1/28/09
ThinkThin Dark Chocolate and Chocolate Mudslide Bars *** Added 1/22/09
Uncle Eddies Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate-Chip Cookies *** Added 1/28/09
Uncle Eddies Individual Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies *** Added 1/28/09
Uncle Eddies Individual Organic Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies *** Added 1/28/09
Whole Foods Carob Energee Nuggets *** Added 1/23/09
ZonePerfect Chocolate Peanut Butter bars
ZonePerfect Peanut Toffee bars
We will update this list as more information becomes available. Customers may return these products to their local Whole Foods Market store for a full refund. Please note there are other products being recalled that are not listed here because we do not carry them in our stores. The FDA has a searchable database opens in a new tab of all recalled peanut butter products.While the FDA is a United States regulatory body, the individual companies issuing recalls may be recalling their products from Canada as well. Please refer to each company directly for their specific recall information.We asked our food safety support senior coordinator, John Burns, to help share helpful information about this whole situation. It is quite involved and still unfolding, but here are the basics. The Peanut Butter Corporation of America (PCA) has recalled peanut butter and peanut paste that was produced in its Blakely, Georgia plant because of potential Salmonella contamination. These peanut products were distributed to food manufacturers to be used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream. The product being recalled is sold by PCA in bulk packaging in containers ranging in size from 5 to 1700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. These products are not sold directly to consumers. PCA has stopped all production at its Blakely plant as the FDA continues its investigation into the source of the Salmonella contamination.Companies that use peanut butter as an ingredient are looking closely at their products to determine if they have used the peanut butter that is under investigation and subsequently a number of companies have pulled products from circulation that they feel are at risk. The only ones recalled thus far that are sold in our stores are listed above.The FDA investigation is still in its early stages, so we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and keep you updated about anything that affects the products we sell. You can learn more from the PCA recall notice opens in a new tab (pdf) and the FDA website section on the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak opens in a new tab.Please note: While new research is being conducted, we will not be able to answer questions about specific peanut related products. Please refer to our new blog post opens in a new tab for updates to the situation as they become available. Additionally, our answers to previous comments on this blog post about the recall are not necessarily accurate any longer given the new developments.
