OHIO: King Nut issues peanut butter recall

10.jan.09
King Nut Companies

Solon, Ohio -- King Nut Companies, a distributor of peanut butter
manufactured for them by Peanut Corporation of America, today announced
a recall of peanut butter distributed under the King Nut label. No other
King Nut products are included in this recall.
King Nut took this action as soon as it was informed that salmonella had
been found in an open five-pound tub of King Nut peanut butter. King Nut
distributes peanut butter only through food service accounts. It is not
sold directly to consumers. King Nut does not supply any of the
ingredients for the peanut butter distributed under its label. All other
King Nut products are safe and not included in this voluntary recall.
"We are very sorry this happened," said Martin Kanan, president and
chief executive officer of King Nut Companies. "We are taking immediate
and voluntary action because the health and safety of those who use our
products is always our highest priority."
"Because we don't manufacture peanut butter, we will do what we can to
get this product out of distribution and will work with the manufacturer
to inform others of this problem," Kanan said. "We also distribute
peanut butter from this manufacturer under the Parnell's Pride brand,
although we are not the only distributor. However, we have asked our
customers to remove this brand as well."
Kanan said that King Nut began contacting customers immediately to stop
distributing all peanut butter with lot codes beginning with "8," and
immediately cancelled orders with the manufacturer.
Customers are asked to take all King Nut peanut butter and Parnell's
Pride peanut butter distributed by King Nut out of distribution
immediately. For more information, go to www.kingnut.com.
Contact: Martin Kanan, Chief Executive Officer, 440-248-8484 extension
244

King Nut
Q&A
1. How is your peanut butter manufactured?
King Nut does not actually manufacture peanut butter. We also do not
supply ingredients for the peanut butter we distribute. Peanut butter
distributed under the King Nut label is manufactured by Peanut
Corporation of America. Before we distribute their products, we require
certification that the product has been tested and is safe. The test
includes screening for salmonella.
2. Are other King Nut products affected by this recall?
Absolutely not. We do not manufacture peanut butter nor do we supply
ingredients for peanut butter. We package and distribute many other
products under the King Nut label and these products are not included in
this recall. We regularly test our products for safety and carefully
follow guidelines provided by the Food and Drug Administration. Our
products exceed standards as called out by the American Institute of
Baking during their annual audits. For more information on AIB, please
go to www.aibonline.org.
3. What product safety measure do you take?
Before distributing peanut butter, we require certification from our
supplier that the product has been tested and is safe. One of the
primary tests is screening for salmonella.
4. Where is King Nut Peanut Butter distributed?
Our products are distributed to food service companies that in turn
distribute them to institutions such as hospitals, schools, restaurants
and nursing homes.
5. What should I do if I have King Nut Peanut Butter?
Stop using it and contact your local food service distributor.
6. Where can I get more information about salmonella?
The best source of information on salmonella is the Center for Disease
Control website, www.cdc.gov.