Perhaps a bit untimely, but today is National Peanut Butter Day. It should be one of the happiest days of the year, when all the little boys and girls wake up to find their shoes filled with peanut butter, courtesy of the Peanut Butter Man (whom I shall become when I grow up). But this year is less celebratory due to the salmonella outbreak. Currently, 488 people have been affected and 31 million pounds of peanut butter have been recalled. There’s no reason to be afraid, you just need to be informed. I plan on helping you separate the facts from fiction so you can still enjoy your peanut butter today!
I’ve been contacted by the National Peanut Board with some information regarding the outbreak. The affected peanut butter is in commercial sized tubs ranging from 5 lb – 1,700 lb form the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). This means that products you find in the store containing peanut butter may be affected. Consumer brands of peanut butter are NOT affected but to see a list of confirmed safe peanut butter brands, click here.
The following link is the FDA website regarding the outbreak: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html. But more is the following link for the categorized and searchable database of all recalled products: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm
Common brands being recalled: Keebler, Little Debbie, Trader Joe’s, Clif Bar, Lunabar and Larabar
The Larabar affected is the popular Peanut Butter Cookie flavor but you can make you own with the Peanut Butter Cookie Nickbar recipe to help you recover through these tough times. Bottom line, go out and enjoy some peanut butter today but please enjoy responsibly!
R.I.P. cousin Bennett
“Courtesy of the Peanut Butter Man (whom I shall become when I grow up)”
This had me giggling =)
I will be enjoying my PB responsibly today to celebrate the wonder that it is!!!
Thanks for the update, what a downer for National Peanut Butter Day. I guess I will just go make some of my own peanut butter snacks, they will taste better anyway.
How cool to know the Peanut Butter Man to be & his blog! A real superhero!
A beautiful day. Thank you for the info–I think you’re spot on, it’s not a need for blind fear, but just make sure you’re informed. Last night I made mini peanut butter chocolate pies, so I plan on celebrating by eating some today!
Partay! ~ Nick
Thank you Nick for the info! I’m sorry this is not as wonderful a day for you as it should be!
thank you for all this info!
OH NO! I heard about the PB outbreak but I didn’t know how many people or brands were affected… I’ll have to try the “nickbars”! And on national PB day… how will the PB boy (soon to be official PB bear, or, I don’t know, pup, dog, it’s a play on the easter bunny) ever survive!? Is there any brands surely not affected? =0
No brands are affected luckily, but be on the lookout for Peanut Butter Santa in December… ~ Nick
1 question: Where does one purchase a 1700 lb tub of peanut butter? I would like one please. :)
That is an excellent question Heather. I’ll report back once I’ve found one (uncontaminated, that is). ~ Nick
Damn, I did NOT eat enough peanut butter today in its honor! Sad.
That’s really awful about how many people have been affected and all. And how much peanut butter has now gone to waste.
When you’re the Peanut Butter Man, can I be your Zwarte Piet? :)
Haha I think I’ll have to make a reality show contest to determine the Zwarte Piet, maybe Food Network would pick it up… ~ Nick
Thanks for sharing!
Gaahh! I can’t believe I missed Peanut Butter Day! I’m such a bad peanut butter lover :(
Thanks, Nick!!
Thanks for the update. Is it just me or has this not been widely publicized? I haven’t heard any kind of news reports nor has it been in my local papers.
It was announced a lot at first but then sorta died out which I don’t get, people really need to know this stuff, a lot of people have gotten sick and plenty have died from it. ~ Nick
So Skippy and Jif aren’t on the list of pb’s that are okay.??
Thanks for the info, Nick! It will be so fun to one day say I “know” the Peanut Butter Man!Gonna have to make those Nickbars!
How do you know it was national PB day? All the info I can find on it say it’s March 1. Anyway, I’ll celebrate regardless!
Oops I forgot to post my method of PB celebration! http://muffinlovechick.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-pledge-allegiance-to-peanut-butter.html :D
Great post Nick!
Darn, I just purchased a 1000lb tub of PB to swim in – do you think I’ll be ok? Maybe if I wear a snorkel and scrub really hard when I get out. I mean – is there any other way to properly celebrate peanut butter day?
Peanut Butter Man – when you become him, will you suddenly start wearing a tan coloured cape and huge red underpants whilst flying across the globe to fix PB emergencies?
x x x
Wow Naomi, I really wish I had celebrated as hardcore as you. I never even thought about a peanut butter pool before but I love the idea! And yes, that sole purpose of Peanut Butter Man is to help avert peanut butter related crises. That, and to fill kids shoes with peanut butter on National Peanut Butter Day of course. ~ Nick
I’ve been wondering what happened with all the peanut butter cookie larabars. Thanks for sharing!
Hey, love the blog. You inspired me to search for homemade peanut butter recipes. Man some of them look so yummy!!! I happened to stumble across this website http://www.spreadtherestaurant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=67
You might wanna check it out. I may have to order some of this stuff. Have an amazing day!
~Justine
If you want to make some of your own flavors, check out the “flavors” category on my site, or just go here: http://www.peanutbutterboy.com/category/flavors . Homemade Cinnamon Raisin PB is a staple in my house for everyone. I’ve seen that site before but I keep forgetting about it, they have some ridiculously good looking peanut butter! ~ Nick
Nick, it brings a tear to my eye when I think about your selfless acts of peanut heroism. I have a degree in costume design you know, so when you need that upgrade to a peanut butter man suit, just you let me know and I’ll start snipping up the tan lycra. I’m thinking a big P on the chest, or maybe just a large peanut in shell appliqued on the torso?
x x x
don’t cry for me, peanutina!
You crack me up!!
When I think of your costume I think it should be yellow with a red cape & a peanut on the front. With blue bottoms. Yea. Mask or no mask? That is the question!