Blair Lovern, says:

<i>Passing along some info. from Collin County</i>:

With the recent peanut butter recall, the public may be asking why foodborne outbreaks have become so common. Collin County Health Care Services has compiled some important facts and advice on these types of illnesses:

· Residents who believe that they are ill because of the recent recall should see a doctor. Everyone should discard the peanut butter related to the recall.

· If you are experiencing symptoms of salmonella or another foodborne illness, such as fever, diarrhea, and/or abdominal cramps, please visit your family doctor and ask if your provider thinks your illness is caused by bacteria. Your provider may not prescribe antibiotics because in certain circumstance they can make your illness worse.

· If your diagnosis is confirmed and reported by the physician, you can expect your local health department to call and ask questions about what you have eaten. It is important to remember that information given to the health department is obtained in order to prevent others from getting sick and not for use in legal cases.

Private laboratories in Texas are asked to submit salmonella samples to the Department of State Health Services. DSHS can provide genetic studies of the bacteria and compare them to those found in other states. When they are the same, health officials know that a single source is making people sick in multiple locations. Investigation of those illnesses helps determine if a food in wide distribution is the cause.

In 2006, 51 Collin County residents were diagnosed with salmonellosis and 8 residents were diagnosed with E. coli.

Collin County Health Care Services is a public health agency charged with assisting the state and federal government in protecting the public health through prevention, outbreak detection and investigation. It is not a full service medical clinic.

For more information on foodborne illnesses, visit the Center for Disease Control’s website at <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/">www.cdc.gov</a>.

Mike Orren, says:

Look out Canada!

Barbara, one of several readers today who seems to think that WE are Peter Pan, sends this message:

When holidaying in South Carolina just before Christmas we purchased a jar of Peter Pan peanut butter. We live in Canada and wanted to inform you how easy it is to get the product from one country to another. We have been eating it regularly until I just heard of your recall.

Peanut butter extradition = easy. You heard it here first.

Blair Lovern, says:

All this peanut butter news had me craving a peanut butter sandwich the entire day. Especially since I took a <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=ECAIyE7eW3A">Lean Pocket</a> to work, ate a bite and a half and threw it away in disgust. I can't eat those things any more, no matter the hunger level.

I got home from work, looked in the cabinets and saw 2 jars of Peter Pan - with the numbers 2111!

DAMN YOU, PETER! I'm typing this while eating a ham and provolone. ARGH!

Mike Orren, says:

Mike Davis got some of it too:

http://dallasprogress.blogspot.com/20...

Todd Maternowski, says:

Apparently the Salmonella outbreak and recall is spreading like wildfire, now affecting ice cream and peanut butter dessert toppings:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04...