• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

NutriSystem Expands Voluntary United States Recall of Peanut Butter Granola Breakfast Bar to Include Canada Due to Possible Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) Contamination and Potential Health Risk

Posted on: Friday, 30 January 2009, 18:00 CST

No Cases of Illness Reported; No Other Products Within the NutriSystem Food Portfolio Are Affected By The Recall

HORSHAM, Pa., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- NutriSystem Inc., a leading provider of weight management products and services, today announced an expanded voluntary recall of its NutriSystem-branded Peanut Butter Granola Bar due to the expanded recall from Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) to include all peanut products manufactured from January 1, 2007 to the present. (Lot codes listed below).

There have been no cases of illness or adverse effects reported by any NutriSystem customers confirming Salmonella contamination in the NutriSystem Peanut Butter Granola Bar. This voluntary recall is in line with FDA recommendations, and NutriSystem has already removed all products within existing inventory.

No other products within the NutriSystem food portfolio, including those made with peanut butter are affected by this recall.

The Peanut Butter Breakfast Granola Bar product is being recalled because it contains peanut butter which was manufactured by PCA's Blakely, Georgia facility, which is the focus of an ongoing Salmonella investigation by the FDA. PCA was one of the suppliers of peanut ingredients to the company. NutriSystem is no longer using PCA as a peanut butter supplier.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. For more information on Salmonella, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site at www.cdc.gov (or call 1-800-232-4636).

"The safety of our customers is our highest priority, and in keeping with the recommendations by the FDA, we are urging all consumers who have purchased or are in possession of this product to immediately destroy them," said Sharon Tate, Vice President of Quality Assurance, NutriSystem, Inc. "Customers seeking a replacement bar are being asked to e-mail PBbar@Nutrisystem.com and a replacement bar will be issued in its place."

The peanut butter granola bar has been distributed directly to customers from the website or call center sales, by NutriSystem, nationwide in the United States and Canada. The Peanut Butter Granola Bar (UPC 6 3267432016 2 and 6 32674 37016 7) is not available in retail stores, and not sold under any other name. Additional details can be found at www.nutrisystem.com

AFFECTED LOT CODES

The Peanut Butter Granola Breakfast bars are labeled in English with UPC code 6 32674 32016 2 and are labeled with dual English/French labeling with UPC code 6 32674 37016 7.

Product Name UPC / Item # Packaging Package Lot Codes Affected Size Type PEANUT BUTTER 6 32674 32016 2 1.41 oz Flexible TC08158A, TC08188A, GRANOLA BAR (40 g) Film TC09158A, TC09168A, TC09178A, TC11148A, TC11178A, TC03198A, TC04178A, TC05128A, TC05148A, TC05158A, TC05168A, TC06028A, TC06108A, TC06128A, TC06138A, TC06168A, TC06178A, TC07038A, TC07078A, TC07088A, TC08148A, TC09118A PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA BAR / BARRE GRANOLA AU BEURRE D'ARACHIDE 6 32674 37016 7 40g Flexible Film TC03198A Contact: Craig Alperowitz DeVries Public Relations 646-253-0217 calperowitz@devries-pr.com

SOURCE NutriSystem Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category