It was the second time in less than a year that ConAgra stopped production of a product because of reported salmonella illnesses.
In February, ConAgra recalled all of its Peter Pan and private label peanut butter after it was linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 620 people across the country. The company renovated a Georgia plant after that incident and returned Peter Pan to store shelves in August.
The Banquet and generic frozen turkey and chicken pot pies were not recalled Tuesday. However, the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a health alert saying that people should not eat chicken or turkey pot pies with the code "P-9" on the side of the packages until officials determine the source of contamination and verify proper cooking instructions for the products.
Stores were told not to sell the product, ConAgra spokeswoman Stephanie Childs said.
ConAgra officials said health officials from several states had told the company Monday about a number of people who had been diagnosed with salmonella. The health officials thought the illnesses were statistically associated with eating Banquet frozen not-ready-to-eat chicken and turkey pot pies, ConAgra said.
ConAgra said it thinks the problem is related to people undercooking the frozen pot pies. However, it advised customers not to eat the products.
If they wish, people can return them for a refund by sending the side panel of the package of Banquet or generic pot pies that contain the code "P-9" to ConAgra Foods, BQPP, P.O. Box 3768, Omaha, NE 68103-0768.
People also can return the frozen pot pies to the store from which they were purchased for a refund, ConAgra said.
The company said it was revising its packaging to more clearly illustrate different cooking times for Banquet frozen pot pies. The changes are related to the different power levels of microwaves.
"If any indications are found that the product poses risks to consumers when cooked according to package directions, the company will take further action immediately," ConAgra officials said in a press release.
The frozen pot pies are not ready to eat without being thoroughly cooked. That means cooking them on high in a microwave for about four minutes and letting them stand for about two minutes to allow a complete cooking process, Childs said.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been 139 cases of salmonella illness reported in 30 states, including two in Kansas. No deaths had been attributed to the outbreak, CDC officials said.
Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Colorado had not reported any illnesses, the agency said. The federal agency was working with state health officials around the country as they investigate the outbreak, CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell said.
Salmonella sickens about 40,000 people a year in the United States and kills about 600. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. People with underlying health problems or weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to life-threatening infections.
Thoroughly cooking eggs, poultry and ground beef helps prevent salmonella illnesses, the CDC said.
ConAgra's peanut butter recall cost the company more than $140 million in fiscal 2007, which ended in May, including lost sales and renovation of its Georgia plant. ConAgra also faces several lawsuits filed by people who became ill in that outbreak.
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Source: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/685605/
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