FDA Issues Peanut Safety Guidelines

reuters.com — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued safety guidelines for companies that use peanut products and said it may seize products that test positive for salmonella bacteria. While heat-sensitive, salmonella bacteria become heat-resistant in high-fat environments such as peanut butter, the FDA guidance advises. The document provides advice directly relevant to a food poisoning outbreak that has renewed calls for a revamp of food safety protocols in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention government said 683 people in 46 states have been sickened in the outbreak linked to foods that used peanut ingredients made by the now-bankrupt Peanut Corp of America. The outbreak continues to affect hundreds of the company's customers and has forced the recall of 3,235 products.

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