Salmonella Found in ConAgra Plant

SYLVESTER, Ga. - Samples collected by the Food and Drug Administration, Washington, at ConAgra's plant here revealed the presence of salmonella. The fact that the salmonella was found in the plant environment further suggests that the contamination likely took place prior to the product reaching consumers, according to the FDA. The salmonella found in the plant matched the outbreak strain also found in open jars of Peter Pan and Wal-Mart‘s private-label Great Value brand peanut butter last week. The FDA has also learned that the ConAgra plant in Sylvester sent bulk Peter Pan peanut butter to its plant in Humboldt, Tenn., where it may have been used in making the Sonic brand ready-to-use peanut butter topping, Carvel peanut butter topping and J. Hungerford Smith peanut butter dessert topping. "We continue to work with the FDA on its ongoing investigation regarding how this may have happened," a spokeswoman for ConAgra told SN. "When that investigation is concluded, we will take those findings and use them to determine what the next steps should be in resolving the situation and getting the products back on the shelves."