Opportunity for Aussie peanut product exports?

  • January 23, 2009
  • Susan Dick

As the old saying goes, ‘one man’s misery can be another’s good fortune’ and news from the US is that over 125 peanut based products have been recalled in America’s peanut butter salmonella food scare – and US officials have warned that the number may grow as the investigation widens. It represents the second major salmonella outbreak in the US within a nine months following last year’s jalapeno chilli contamination, and again puts the issue of food safety under the microscope.

Peanut Butter Sandwich

Products ranging from biscuits and peanut butter to ice cream have been recalled amid a salmonella outbreak that has effected 487 people in the US and Canada and has been linked to six deaths. US food safety officials advised journalists on 21st January that the source of the outbreak was peanut butter and peanut paste made by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) in their Georgia factory.

PCA has supplied over 70 companies including food manufacturer General Mills and retailers, including Safeway, have recalled products made with PCA ingredients.

The director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the FDA said the investigation into the outbreak remained “ongoing”.

“We currently have more than 125 recalled products listed on the FDA website and we expect that number to continue to increase as we continue to get new product-specific information,” Dr Sundlof said.

The American appetite for peanut butter and peanut products in general is legendary, so this product recall may be an opportunity for fast acting Australian manufacturers and exporters to fill the breach. If local peanut products head across the Pacific, it remains to be seen whether a shortage or price rise locally may be the result.


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