Atkins voluntarily recalls peanut products

Reprint from my Examiner column



While Atkins Nutritionals believes all of it's peanut containing products to be safe, they have decided to pull some of the products in their line just to be safe. Below is the press release and contact information, should you need it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATKINS(tm) NUTRITIONALS PARTICIPATES IN VOLUNTARY PEANUT RECALL

DENVER, CO. (January 31, 2009) - On January 20, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. (Atkins) announced that none of its products were affected by the widely publicized recall of peanut butter and peanut paste processed at the Blakely, Georgia facility of Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), and linked to an outbreak of Salmonella related complaints and illnesses. On January 28, 2009, PCA unexpectedly expanded its voluntary recall to include all peanuts and peanut products processed at its Georgia facility. Although Atkins products contain no peanut butter or peanut paste sourced from PCA, four Atkins products do contain granulated peanuts, or peanut pieces, sourced from PCA's Georgia facility. As a result of PCA's expanded recall, Atkins has determined to voluntarily recall these four Atkins products out of an abundance of caution because they contain granulated peanuts recalled by PCA. While Atkins has determined to voluntarily participate in this recall, purely as a precautionary measure, out of concern for our consumers and retail customers, we are confident all our products are safe. Atkins requires extensive laboratory testing of all ingredients used in every Atkins product, and our finished products are also rigorously tested. As a result of Atkins' food safety protocols, and the extensive laboratory testing on all Atkins products, no Salmonella contamination has been found in any of the Atkins products subject to this recall, but the Company is taking this step to assure our consumers that food safety is our highest priority.

Only the following products are subject to this voluntary recall:

Advantage Chocolate Peanut Butter

Advantage Peanut Fudge Granola

Day Break Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp

Endulge Peanut Caramel Cluster

For Advantage Chocolate Peanut Butter bars, only products manufactured after April 2008 are subject to the recall and detailed information pertaining to affected lot numbers is available at www.atkins.com.

No other Atkins products are affected by this recall. Atkins apologizes to consumers and retail customers for the inconvenience resulting from this recall. If consumers find that they have any of these products in their possession, they are asked not to consume the products. Consumers seeking a replacement or refund for recalled products should call Atkins Consumer Hotline number, 1-8.... Atkins intends to update this notice as the situation develops.

People infected with Salmonella can have some or all of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious disease, including headache, joint pain, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

NOTE: If you are one of our Great Start Giveaway winners and will be getting the Atkins gift pack, we have removed all bars that were included in the recall and are replacing with them with other options. The folks at Atkins even mentioned tossing in some extra goodies for you. :)