Food Recall at Fannin Schools

The Fannin County School District issued a food recall announcement this week for Smuckers Uncrustables sandwiches. According to an October 10th press release from J.M. Smuckers Company, Smuckers has issued a limited voluntary recall of specific lots of bulk packs of Uncrustable sandwiches distributed exclusively through food service sales channels. The release goes on to explain that peanut butter used in the product from Sunland Inc is associated with the recall due to possible Salmonella contamination used in certain lots of 72-count bulk packs of Uncrustables.

The Food Poisoning Prevention website reports Sunland Inc has had over 240 products recalled. Also, the International Business Times (IBT) website reported that Sunland extended the recall last month to include all raw and roasted in-shell and shelled peanuts. The FDA recently released a list of brands and products to avoid due to possible salmonella contamination, which includes Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, and America’s Choice. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control reported the salmonella outbreak has affected 35 people across 19 states, just from the Trader Joe’s brand, Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt. In an article this week, IBT stated the peanuts involved in the recall came from the Sunland Peanut Processing Plant in Portales, New Mexico.

In an email today, Fannin County School Nutrition Director Candice Sisson stated at this time no formal alert has been issued because the recall is still voluntary. She also stated these products were received and served over the past several months at Blue Ridge Elementary School, East Fannin Elementary School, West Fannin Elementary School, and Fannin County Middle School. Sisson confirmed that all remaining recall products have been destroyed. Sisson, however, did issue a health warning:

Any person who has been served this product by any of our schools and experiences the following symptoms should be referred to their physician and the Health Department. The most common symptoms include: Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and fever.

Sisson said the effects from salmonella poisoning can occur between six hours of consumption of the contaminated product to eight days. The Smuckers products in question were served seven days ago, Sisson said.

Additionally, she reassured the community the peanut butter used in the sandwiches made by School Nutrition employees is not part of this recall and noted that some of the Smuckers’ Uncrustable products already in inventory are also not part of the recall.

Below is a list of product descriptions affected by the recall

Product Codes
5150006650, 5150006611, 5150006612, 5150006651, 5150006656, 5150006659, 5150006660, 5150006655, 5150006620, 5150006621

Best-If-Used-By Dates
April 1, 2012 through November 14, 2012