by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

National salmonella outbreaks are scary, aren’t they?  When they occur (and it seems pretty often) we hear an almost daily barrage of new cases—some serious, a few even deadly.  What is the average Jane or Joe to do in a situation like this, other than worry?

One thing, of course, is to avoid the affected foods.   You’ll survive for the short term.  If you just can’t live without your favorite peanut combo, you can check your brand’s website or call their headquarters for information.  The FDA has recommended that companies whose peanuts are not supplied by the Peanut Corporation of American (the source of the outbreak) publicize this fact.

But, really, how dangerous are these outbreaks to the general public?
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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Can you believe the Peanut Corporation of America was sending out their products knowing they had a problem?

The PCA, of course, is responsible for the salmonella outbreak that has sickened closed to 600 and killed at least eight.  Their own records allegedly show positive salmonella cultures in 2007 and 2008.  Apparently, they just retested until they got a negative and sent the contaminated product on its way.  The FDA is conducting a criminal investigation.

What do you think?  If true, should someone go to jail?

Wait, there’s more.

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Here's the latest on the FDA peanut and peanut butter recalls.  Thai food, candy, cookies, snack mixes, even dog food.  The FDA says, "Major national brands of jarred peanut butter" are not in this recall. Girl Scout Cookies and Reese's also say they're not implicated because their peanuts don't come from the Peanut Corporation of America.

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

I’m sure you know by now the FDA is getting rid of foods containing peanut butter faster than I can say Jif. (No, it’s not one of them.)  First tomatoes, now peanut butter.  Is there no end to the misery?

James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor has been following the case closely.  Our dedicated managing editor has made it her mission to specifically find out if Girl Scout cookies are safe to eat, or will that industry go down in flames like Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae and the Republican party before them.

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

The FDA has ruled out the Texas distribution center as a source of the Salmonella outbreak.  The source is thought to be Jalapeno peppers from Mexico.  They say it is ok to eat U.S. grown peppers.

I am not sure how you know they are grown in U.S. unless you trust who is selling them.  We’ll see

by Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor

When our publisher James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H., wrote about the tomato/salmonella outbreak this week, blog reader “Deborah in Chicago” asked some fantastic questions about it. “I’ve read several articles…and look at how many questions I have!!” she wrote. We took that as a challenge.

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