CATEGORY:NEWS RELEASE -------------------------- INSIDE GRENADA Friday February 16,2007 by L. Simeon Collins, Director(GBS) GRENADA (16/02/07):The Grenada Bureau of Standards (GBS) is advising consumers to refrain from eating Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter which have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number `2111’ due to the risk of contamination with salmonella (a bacteria that causes food borne `illnesses’). This follows a similar warning that has been issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Five (5) cases of food borne illness in Grenada which might be associated to this product have already been reported. Symptoms of the food borne illness caused by salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In persons with weakened immune systems, salmonella may cause life-threatening infections. The Bureau is advising consumers to destroy any Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product Code 2111 in their possession. Retailers of these products with the product code 2111 in their possession are also being asked to discard them. EDITOR'S NOTE: Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning: It normally takes 12 to 48 hours for symptoms to develop. Symptoms may include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Infection may be very severe, and in some cases may be fatal. It is particularly likely to cause severe illness in the very young and very old. Symptoms may last up to three weeks and there may be complications such as reactive arthritis. The local distributor of the product has since issued a statement, advising that persons with the product should return it.