HISD To Replace Recalled Products Brought From Home – Parents To Be Notified

When the initial recall of King Nut peanut butter was announced earlier this week, the Houston Independent School District checked all of its supplies and determined that the district had none of the product.  Additionally, the recall did not affect retail peanut butter brands.

 

Now a voluntary recall of peanut butter crackers has been added, which does affect the district and, potentially, students who bring their lunches to school.

 

King Nut Companies, a distributor of peanut butter manufactured for them by Peanut Corporation of America, announced Jan. 10 a recall of peanut butter distributed under the King Nut label.

Kellogg Company today announced it has taken the precautionary measure of putting a hold on Austin and Keebler branded Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Crackers, Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Sandwich Crackers.

FDA and other regulatory agencies have indicated that Peanut Corporation of America is the focus of their investigation concerning a recent Salmonella outbreak thought to be caused by tainted peanut butter. PCA is one of several peanut paste suppliers that Kellogg uses in its Austin and Keebler branded peanut butter sandwich crackers.

One of the brands listed in the recall is in vending machines across the district, so an order was immediately issued to all HISD facilities to shut down the machines until the vendor arrives to remove the products. Since the recall seems to be evolving, HISD is taking the additional precaution of pulling all peanut butter products district wide, until the safety of the products can be assured.

 

HISD school cafeterias will also provide entrees to students in exchange for peanut butter crackers and sandwiches brought from home and the district will inform parents of the recall and the action the district is taking through an automated phone message which will be sent out today.

 

This is the second time HISD has been affected by a peanut butter product recall. In February of 2007, after a nationwide recall of salmonella-tainted peanut butter, HISD Food Services replaced thousands of peanut butter sandwiches that children brought from home with sandwiches from the school cafeterias. The district also notified parents of that recall through a district wide automated phone message.