Smucker’s Uncrustables and other foods made with peanut butter possibly tainted with Salmonella were served in the school lunch program for weeks after the peanut butter was first recalled. Certain lots of the crustless sandwiches made by by the J.M.Smucker Co. of Orrville, Ohio contain peanut butter that was recalled by Sunland Inc., of Portales, NM on September 24, but the sandwiches were still being served to school children during the second week of October, Food Poisoning Bulletin has learned.
Within three days of Sunland’s recall, both Smucker’s and Advance Pierre of Cincinnati, which makes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cracker snacks and desserts that are also part of the National School Lunch Program, had contacted schools to to say they were not part of the recall. So, the products were served to school children in 16 states until the week of October 8, 2012 when both companies re-contacted affected states and told them to pull the products.
Confusion about which products are included in the recall has reigned since the problem with the peanut butter was first discovered. On September 24, both Sunland and one of its clients Trader Joe’s, issued voluntary recalls for peanut butter. Sunland’s recall listed more than 70 products that it made under a variety of brand names for clients including Trader Joe’s and Target. Within hours, the recall was expanded to include dozens more products. Since then, 50 derivative recalls have been posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s ) website recalling more than 240 products.
Advance Pierre’s recall was posted on the FDA website October 11, but does not mention the company’s participation in the school lunch program. Smucker’s has yet to post their recall on the FDA website. Instead, the company chose to communicate only with participants in National School Lunch Program who received affected products. Food Poisoning Bulletin has obtained copies of this information. The recalled products were delivered in 72-count bulk packs with “Best-If-Used-By” dates of April 1, 2012 through November 14, 2012. The product codes are as follows: 5150006650, 5150006611, 5150006612,5150006651, 5150006656, 5150006659, 5150006660, 5150006655, 5150006620 and 5150006621.
