Peanut Butter Recall — Updated 2/10/09 5pm

by Paige Brady, February 9th, 2009 | Permalink | Email this

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comment Posting Guidelines. If you have a store-specific inquiry, please contact your local store.

79 Responses to “Peanut Butter Recall — Updated 2/10/09 5pm”

1. Candace Nigh:

   I have a jar of Whole Foods 365 organic peanut butter. I’ve had it for quite a while and have eaten 3/4 of the jar with no illness. Just wanted to confirm that this brand is not on the recall list.

   
   January 29th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
2. Dee:

   Thank you.
   So many people have Missed the Fact that the recall Involves food made with peanuts Processed at Blakely, Georgia, facility. Knowing the Paste or granules could be shipped else where and added to other Foods is a small fact most people would not be aware of.

   
   January 29th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
3. Chryl Smith:

   is Skippy Peanut Butter okay?

   
   January 30th, 2009 at 11:35 am
4. Paige Brady:

   @Candace Nigh: We have been in contact with our vendor and received assurance that our 365 PL peanut butter, smooth and crunchy, is not sourced from Peanut Corporation of America (PCA).

   @Chryl Smith: The FDA says “Major national brands of jarred peanut butter found in grocery stores are not affected by the PCA recall.”

   
   January 30th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
5. Bob Fryer:

   I purchased a container of the freshly ground peanuts approximately 2 weeks ago and, coincidentally(?), had stomach pains for several days. Any word on the raw peanuts being included?

   
   January 30th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
6. Phillip:

   I am glad to hear of so many products of yours not being affected. I often times get grief from people about shopping at WholeFoods, but this is one of those times when I am glad I do. I hope that you all continue to work to ensure the suppliers are adhering to better than normal standards. Thanks. Keep up the good work.

   
   January 30th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
7. Nicole:

   Is the Rosie’s Frozen Peanutbutter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough that you sell ok? I bought some on 1/23 at the store in Waban. Thanks.

   
   January 30th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
8. Paige Brady:

   @Bob: The PCA recall has been expanded to include whole peanuts. The FDA advises: “People who think they may have become ill from eating peanut products are advised to consult their health care providers.”

   @Nicole: Vendors are currently assessing their ingredient sourcing and unless they notify us of a recall, we do not have the information about their products. The FDA advises:

   * Consumers are advised not to eat products that have been recalled and to throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them.
   * FDA urges consumers first to visit FDA’s Web site to determine if commercially prepared or manufactured products containing peanut products from Peanut Corporation of America (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy, ice cream, pet food or treats) are subject to recall. Identification of products subject to recall is continuing, and FDA will update its list of recalled products and advice based on new information. Consumers who do not have access to the Internet may obtain this information by calling FDA’s information line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or CDC’s consumer information hotline that is staffed 24/7 at 1-800-CDC-INFO.
   * For information on products containing peanuts or peanut products as ingredients from companies not reporting recalls to date, consumers may wish to consult the company’s Web site or call the toll-free number listed on most packaging. Information consumers may receive from the companies in this manner has not been verified by FDA.
   * If consumers cannot determine if their peanut products may contain peanut ingredients from PCA, FDA recommends they do not consume those products. Efforts to specifically identify products subject to the PCA recall and to continuously update consumers are ongoing.
   * People who think they may have become ill from eating peanut products are advised to consult their health care providers.

   
   January 31st, 2009 at 8:56 am
9. Alejandra:

   Thanks for this post. It’s great to know that so many 365 products weren’t affected!

   
   January 31st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
10. Leah Klein:

    Skippy peanut butter seems to be okay according to the Peanut Council. I have a list of all the companies (including Whole Foods list) that have “safe” peanut products.

    http://www.examiner.com/x-1240-Boston-Family-Foodie-Examiner~y2009m1d31-Peanut-butter-recall–The-peanut-addicts-guide-to-what-is-still-safe

    
    January 31st, 2009 at 9:06 pm
11. Mitzi Pilcher:

    I have purchased several bags of the Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels. Are these safe?

    
    January 31st, 2009 at 9:29 pm
12. Paige Brady:

    @Leah Klein: Thanks for sharing the information from the Peanut Butter Council.

    @Mitzi: We are only posting about products that we carry in our stores. You’ll have to check with them.

    
    February 1st, 2009 at 8:48 am
13. Wake:

    I don’t see the Whole Foods organic grind-your-own peanut butter on the list – what about it?

    
    February 1st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
14. Joobi:

    From what sources does WF’s 365 peanut butter (regular, not organic) come from? And what about the organic? I seem to recall that many products, organic or not, come out of the same factories as chain store brands, etc.

    If you respond, please answer the questions and not some tangential issue, thanks.

    
    February 1st, 2009 at 9:41 pm
15. Ann:

    I recently purchased a box of Matt’s Fresh baked Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies from Whole Foods in South Loop, Chicago. Are these safe to eat? They have been sitting on my counter, I so want to eat them…

    
    February 1st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
16. peter beckman:

    I read all of your listings but am still not sure whether your machine ground bulk fresh organic peanut butter is part of the recall. Thank you.

    
    February 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 am
17. Paige Brady:

    @Wake and @peter beckman: You don’t see grind-your-own peanut butter on the list because the peanuts come from various sources. Some of our whole peanut suppliers were affected by the PCA recall. You will need to check with your store specifically.

    @Ann: We have listed recall information that we are aware of. Additional recalls are announced daily, so you may want to check with the manufacturer directly. You are more than welcome to return the product for a full refund.

    @Joobi: When we contract with a manufacturer to produce a private label product, they request that we sign a confidentiality clause. So, we are not at liberty to answer your question. We can assure you that we have received confirmation that they do not source their ingredients from PCA.

    
    February 2nd, 2009 at 10:36 am
18. Jerome Liebling:

    I noticed a post about fresh ground peanuts. Since I have been a long time devote of Whole Foods grind it yourself peanuts (including some I ground two weeks ago), I am concerned. However, the WF response was not clear. Is Whole Foods telling us not to eat ground peanuts from your store (in Las Vegas)? Jerome

    
    February 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
19. Paige Brady:

    @Jerome Liebling: Since our peanuts come from different manufacturers, each store will know about the peanut supply for their own grinders. It is best to contact your store directly http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/index.php to ensure an informed response. Also, all of our stores have been provided detailed cleaning instructions for the bulk bins and grinders so that they may be refilled with peanuts and related products that are not affected by the PCA recall.

    
    February 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
20. alina asla:

    I have a jar of 365 organic peanut butter bought last month and have eaten most of it and its ok.

    
    February 2nd, 2009 at 7:45 pm
21. Chris:

    so, I don’t see whole foods 365 everyday value, all natural creamy peanut butter on your list, is this ok also?

    
    February 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
22. Winnie Hsia:

    @Chris Our 365 Everyday Value All Natural Creamy PB is *not* part of the recall.

    
    February 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
23. Hillary:

    This is very scary. I eat granola bars every morning, they have yet to be recalled as far as I know but I would like confirmation on this:

    Cascadian Farms: Harvest Berry Granola Bars

    Are they safe to eat? I was shocked to see the Kashi TLC granola bars on there… Last week I finished off a box of the almond ones. Luckily I didnt get sick.

    
    February 3rd, 2009 at 4:37 pm
24. Winnie Hsia:

    @Hilary So far, we have no info about that specific product being included in the recalls. If you are concerned, I’d advise contacting Cascadian Farms directly before consuming the bars. (From their website) If you have comments, questions, or concerns about a specific product, please e-mail or call Cascadian Farm and General Mills Consumer Services Department at 1-800-624-4123 (M-F, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., CST).

    
    February 3rd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
25. Diann:

    I can see this recall with most large supermarket brands but to see companies such as KASHI using the same lousy processing plants is very disappointing. I always thought the Whole Foods distrubuted better quality items. I guess I will stop shopping in these pricey stores and gamble at the local supermarket, what is the difference if they are all using the same processing plants.

    
    February 4th, 2009 at 9:31 am
26. Hillary:

    I agree Diann. While I will still always shop at Whole Foods I have become very surprised at some of the brands that they carry. I love the 365 brand and I am so glad to know they are not involved in the recall but I chose Kashi because I was sure It was a good brand – bad move, look at all the products they recalled! Shocking.

    
    February 4th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
27. Lauri Ward:

    Are the plain bagged peanuts you sell being recalled for salmonella?
    Thanks.

    
    February 5th, 2009 at 11:55 am
28. Margie Cunningham:

    I cannot find the information about 365 peanut butter and if it is connected to the recall. Please reply. I have a new jar unopened!

    
    February 5th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
29. Winnie Hsia:

    @Margie 365 Everyday Value Peanut Butters are not part of the recall.

    
    February 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
30. Jerry:

    >> Diann: I can see this recall with most large supermarket brands but to see companies such as KASHI using the same lousy processing plants is very disappointing …

    From Kashi’s recall FAQ (http://www.kashipeanutbutterrecall.com/):

    “Why weren’t these products recalled earlier?

    The products did not contain peanut butter or peanut paste from Peanut Corporation of America. Due to the expanded recall by PCA, to include all peanut products, these products were found to be involved and therefore, recalled.”

    So evidently the scope of the recall has expanded from peanut butter and paste, to any peanut product from PCA.

    My favorite Kashi bar is Honey Almond Flax, which includes: “peanut flour.” Evidently it came from PCA.

    
    February 5th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
31. Emily:

    I am extremely disappointed to hear the WFM was affected by teh PCA. I pay premium to shop at WFM. I would have expected that your quality control department would have reviewed and inspected this facility. What I would like to know is what percentage of your suppliers to you actually inspect or quat requirements and certification to you require them to present? I have been a loyal customer for years of WFM. When I moved to NJ, I moved to Princeton Junction to be close to your store. No need to post, but please repond. I have sent similar correspondance to Kashi.

    
    February 6th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
32. Colleen:

    Are the Santa Cruiz Organic Peanut Butters Safe?

    
    February 7th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
33. TARA PARKER:

    to whole foods, i’m a stay home mom of 3 liitle girls and we have one income coming into our house at this time when we are clearly in a recession. i’m dissappointed that you practice the same greed like all other stores by telling us lies about your products, if your products are organic then why would they be on the national recall list? what makes you diffrent from jewels organic labels, dominicks organic labels or any other brand when you obviously get products from the same manufacturing companies. like many others i got caught up in the “Whole Foods” rainbow and now i realize your products are just like eveybody else. Think of all the money i wasted on your products when i could have gotten tainted peanut products at ALDIS for a cheaper price. I will never ever shoot my friends down again about how great whole foods is…they were right all food basically comes from the same manufacture.

    
    February 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
34. Winnie Hsia:

    @Colleen FDA peanut butter announcement does not include any Santa Cruz Organic® peanut butter products. http://www.scojuice.com/products/peanut_butter

    
    February 9th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
35. Suzanne:

    Our ministry makes 300 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to feed the homeless. I buy the tubs of peanut butter from a friend who owns a deli, that she can buy the case from her suppliers. The name of the Peanut Butter is AMERICA FARM SMOOTH PEANUT BUTTER.
    MANUFACTURED BY: PRODUCER’S PEANUT CO. INC. SUFFOLK, VA 23434
    USA. Is this safe? Can you find out? If you can’t, what should i do.

    
    February 9th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
36. Phillip:

    According to this link… http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/brand_list.cfm?brand=Whole%20Foods%20Market&cat=Peanuts , Whole Foods is affected by this recall! As a long time customer, I am becoming increasingly disappointed by the lack of oversight of the products. This isn’t the first time. I seem to remember a Coleman meats scandal not long ago. Whole Foods is supposed to be better and more aware of the source of its products. What makes you different from Safeway or Walmart exactly? I must say you are very close to losing my business forever! Fortunately for me, there is a food co-op in my area who never has to doubt the source of its products and the quality thereof. Shape up Whole Foods!!!!

    
    February 9th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
37. Winnie Hsia:

    @Suzanne We are consistently updating this blog post with items that we sell in our stores that have been affected by the peanut recall. For other products, check the FDA searchable database here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

    
    February 10th, 2009 at 10:31 am
38. Nate:

    Phillip: I AGREE!!! This is UNACCEPTABLE from a business that supposedly prides itself on scrutiny of its suppliers.. They are LYING to the public!!! There were reports that this supplier had problems and multiple health code violations but their products continued to find their way to Whole Foods stores.

    This is U-N-A-C-C-E-P-T-A-B-L-E. I will continue to shop at the store for now, but am closer and closer to giving up.

    ALSO – We apparently need MUCH stricter standards for Organic products. It is absolutely mind-boggling how an “Organic” product can be tainted with a life-threatening bacteria. Facilities that produce the products should have to be reviewed and certified ORGANIC (and not just the item itself) and if there are any violations, they should lose the status for at least 5 years or more.

    
    February 10th, 2009 at 10:36 am
39. Phillip:

    Yes Winnie Hsia, you are updating the blog, but that doesn’t address the main issue. The issue is that I (we?) expected more from Whole Foods. The question of quality and price are at issue here. I pay more for organic and SAFE products from Whole Foods because my health is important to me. However if the products at Whole Foods are not reliable and you all don’t really have any idea whether something is tainted or organic, what are we paying the extra money for?

    
    February 10th, 2009 at 11:17 am
40. linda:

    Is Masa’s gourmet Thai Peanut Sauce safe from the recall? I didn’t see it last time at Whole Foods.

    
    February 10th, 2009 at 11:44 am
41. Heather:

    Don’t be too surprised about Kashi – it is owned by food giant Kellogg (as of 2000; ah ha! That’s why Kashi products often seem to beat out the prices of many other organic products, like cereal . . . ). This is not a comment about Kellogg’s food quality, just an observation that high revenues often seem to top of the list of large corporations. Those peanut products must have been unbelievably cheap for so many companies to choose PCA as their supplier!

    
    February 10th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
42. BBB:

    “You don’t see grind-your-own peanut butter on the list because the peanuts come from various sources.”

    This is an unacceptable answer. That WF National Procurement doesn’t know it’s “various sources” (especially under circumstances such as these) is negligent.

    
    February 10th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
43. Anne:

    Does anyone know if the West Soy Baked Tofu – Thai Sesame flavor (it has peanuts in it) has been affected by this recall? I looked at the West Soy website and Google’d “peanut recall tofu” but couldn’t find anything.

    
    February 10th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
44. Paige Brady:

    @Emily, @Tara, @Phillip, @Nate: We certainly understand your frustration and concerns. This is one of the largest recalls in U.S. history and many businesses in the food industry, large and small, have been affected.

    While we do not have complete answers now, we are researching how this happened and working with product manufacturers to assess the problems this PCA recall brings to light. Please remember that PCA is facing federal criminal charges for their actions, which include not sharing negative lab results with the manufacturers who bought their products.

    For our part, we immediately acted in the interest of our customers’ safety by pulling potentially affected products from the shelves as quickly as possible. At the same time, we have worked hard to communicate as much as possible with our customers through store team members, store signage, and our blog.

    We’ve received a few questions about organic product from the PCA plant. As a certified organic facility, PCA’s operations are audited and certified to the USDA’s National Organic Standards by Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), a third-party organic certifier approved by the USDA. The standard requires that the facility prevent commingling between organic and conventional products, that organic products are protected from contamination with synthetic substances, and that the suppliers to the facility are also certified. The standard also requires that all production lines are fully cleaned between conventional and organic processing. Responsibility lies with OCIA and the USDA to determine if PCA was in compliance.

    We know there are still unanswered questions and we will continue to provide additional information as we become aware of it.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
45. Paige Brady:

    @linda: According to the manufacturer’s website, https://rikkirikki.powweb.com/dressings.html, Masa’s Gourmet Thai Peanut Sauce is not affected by the recall.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
46. Paige Brady:

    @BBB: I didn’t mean to imply that we don’t know our various sources of peanuts. We certainly do. Not all of our stores get peanuts and other bulk items from the same sources and sources can change for an individual store based on supply in their area. So, to ensure our customers receive the most accurate safety information, we are directing them to their store whose team members are physically conducting the recalls and know specifically what source of peanuts filled their grinders.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
47. Paige Brady:

    @Anne: Westsoy is owned by Hain Celestial. I checked their website and they do not list the West Soy Baked Tofu, Thai Sesame flavor, on their recall page. http://www.hain-celestial.com/press/peanut-products-safety.php You could try contacting them directly if you like.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
48. Phillip:

    To Paige Brady: What we (@Emily, @Tara, @Phillip, @Nate) are saying is that we just expected more from Whole Foods. Personally I have been shopping at Whole Foods before the was Whole Foods. In my area, the company was called Fresh Fields. I completely understand that you feel you were failed by the Federal Government and this 3rd party group OCIA, but based on your history, advertising and marketing you are SUPPOSED to be DIFFERENT! If Safeway or a club store like Walmart or Costco or a large regional supermarket chain had this happen most of we loyal Whole Foods shoppers would feel reaffirmed in our choice to shop with Whole Foods. We expect companies like that to just blindly trust others about what is organic or safe, but again, again, again we expect more from Whole Foods. Maybe you have become too big of a company to meet our lofty expectations. And that is the point of our frustration, we feel our trust has been violated. I guess we believed in you all more than we should have and that is the source of our bitterness. I hope you see our point. We are not just naysayers, we were “true believers”.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
49. Nate:

    Once again, Philip states my point of view exactly!!!

    By the way Paige, I have seen absolutely ZERO signage in Whole Foods stores in the Peanut Butter section regarding the Recall – A sign that says – THIS IS CONFIRMED FROM UNTAINTED SOURCES would go a long way, but does not exist like you say (at least in the stores I have visited – multiple stores).

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
50. Alex:

    @Paige and @Winnie: Thank you.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
51. S Live:

    What about Wild Oats peanutbutter – it was on sale as Wild Oats was phased out . . . recalled or not?

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
52. Stephanie:

    I am trying to figure out if the grind your own peanut butter I have been eating is affected by the salmonella outbreak. I went to the USDA website and it says that Whole Foods Honey Roasted Peanut Butter Stock is on the list of recalled foods. I am disappointed that you cannot tell me which stores are affected, as a consumer I do not want to HAVE to do research to know if my food is safe, that should be your job. Especially when on your website logo it says, “Whole Foods – Selling the Highest Quality Natural and Organic Products.” You should be able to tell me whether or not the products I eat from your stores were affected or not.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
53. WFshopper:

    I am fully devoted to Whole Foods and will forever be a shopper. What people dont realize is that WFs has promised us natural and organic foods made from the highest quality ingredients. Guess what- we believe them, just like WFs believed brands like Kashi were honorable, just like Kashi believed the factory where they were getting their nuts etc. were of good quality. Whole Foods has done its part to update us every day on products that have recalled to keep their customers healthy and pulled bad products off the shelves. Some one has been on here to answer our questions and concerns. Are you going to find that somewhere else?.. I do not think so. While this is a serious problem, we need to hold our selves responsible too for relying so heavily on WFS. Nothing is guarenteed.. ever. People are just always looking for someone to blame.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
54. Missy:

    I’m really surprised that so many people are complaining about Whole Foods not being on top the peanut butter recall. Sorry, but I’m siding with Whole Foods on this one. I expect WF to carry organic and all-natural products. I’m not sure what procedures they have in place when “qualifying” a vendor as one that will have their products carried in their stores, but I’m sure there are processes in place to ensure this. What I do know is that PCA LIED on more than one occasion and KNOWINGLY shipped peanut butter and pb products that showed positive signs of salmonella in them. PCA is the greedy one in all of this – they are the ones RESPONSIBLE for the deaths and sickness that have run across this country. And as we know in the past scares with baby formula, dog food, beef, bagged spinach (organic as well), the processes used by the manufacturing and PROCESSING plants are the ones that need to be updated and policed. If I buy a product, and it’s good, and I continue to buy it, my trust in that product increases. If I get a bad batch of product then, is it the grocer’s fault or the manufacturer’s fault? Sorry people, grow up. Whole Foods has it’s processes and procedures in place to ensure, to the best of their ability, the safety and goodness of the products they SELL – they don’t make them. Where was the oversight from the companies that make the products (Kellogg’s, General Mills, etc) and thus rake in the money? Check the FDA recall list yourself, there’s alot of well-known, well-loved products on there, and not just products that WF’s carries. I shop exclusively at WF for some products, and I get organic products from my grocery-store chain for a little cheaper – but the variety and quality of the foods I purchase at WF SURPASSES those of my neighborhood Walmart, Aldi, Publix, Alberson’s, Winn-Dixie. So I shop around for the best PRODUCT, not necessarily the cheapest. And I will continue to shop at WF because it offers the best organic and natural foods in one place that I can find in my town.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
55. Nate:

    @ Missy, WF Shopper..

    Have you read these things??? These are tools WF uses to market their store to be better than the others. They should live up to these tenets..

    http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/values/corevalues.php#suppliers
    http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/sourcing.php

    Here are some quotes. I would love some clarification from Paige regarding how WF has followed these processes in this situation:

    “We grade our suppliers on their quality performance. We look at customer complaints, testing results and inspection results and actually write a scorecard for every supplier. Their grades determine whether we need to increase our level of supervision with the supplier and require that they conduct additional inspections or testing on their products.”

    “Our standards are the strongest and continuously improving.
    In an effort to continually improve processes, we have a senior leadership council dedicated to keeping current on the latest quality assurance developments and challenges.

    * Whole Foods Market takes quality very seriously. We have regular meetings with senior executives that represent our Quality Assurance, Legal, Operations and Procurement teams to discuss and systematically solve the quality challenges we face. Projects are assigned and resources are allocated for quality improvement based on the findings of the Council.
    * One recent innovation is our Supply Chain Code of Practice (SCCOP). SCCOP is an exclusive food safety code that embodies our desire to work with our suppliers to assure the safety of our products and full transparency in our supply chain.”

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
56. Nate:

    BTW I am not saying that others are not mostly responsible for the problem here too, but if a store specifically markets themselves a certain way, then does not live up to these marketed standards, this is a form of false advertising, so you should understand my frustration.

    Let me also reiterate, I am generally a supporter of WF – I do not shop anywhere else and applaud them for many things they do, but for this reason – I demand they live up to their own expectations.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
57. Winnie Hsia:

    @S Live We’ve contacted the manufacturer of the Wild Oats brand of peanut butter and have received assurance that this product is not part of the recall.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
58. Winnie Hsia:

    @Stephanie Many of our purchasing decisions are made on individual store and regional levels. To this end, the best way to get fast, accurate information on certain items involved in this recall is to contact the store directly. You can find their contact information here: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores or if you’d like me to contact them on your behalf, you can tell me the name of store where you purchased the Honey Roasted Peanut Butter and I’ll reach out to their grocery team for you.

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
59. Phillip:

    I totally agree with Nate. Some of you are making my point for me. You all keep saying “Everyone is affected, how can WF be held accountable?” and all we keep saying is that WF is supposed to be different, “supposed to” being the operative phrase. WF isn’t supposed to just trust a manufacturer when they say they are organic or any other thing. As Nate pointed out, they are supposed to do their own homework. Again, this isn’t limited to the PCA issue. As mentioned before, Coleman Natural Beef distributed tainted meat through WF as recently as last year. The fact that they aren’t different in many circumstances if the source of our protest. But like Nate and most of you, I have been an ardent supporter and advocate of WF. And yes, I know I am acting like a jilted lover, but I am now coming to grips with the fact that WF are too big to live up to their loftiest ideals.

    Additionally, for those who live in areas where there may not be other choices for healthier food alternatives, I get your point; WF on its worst day is better than many others. I live in the DC metro area and WF is not the only choice for large selection organic, wholesome products, not by a long shot. So, yes we are blessed with choice. But this is why WF needs to do more than just a little bit in this crisis. It’s a tough business and in tough financial times losing customers to competition for lack of effort is just stupid.

    To restore some faith in its customers, WF should take the lead on insisting that the Federal Government enact stronger legislation and oversight in the organic food arena, given that customers pay a premium for the designation organic and all that this term implies and all that it means to WF. Because clearly whatever system is in place is a near total failure. (In the last 12 months tainted spinach, meats, tomatoes and now peanut products).

    
    February 11th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
60. katharine:

    Here is what I don’t understand-How can some ORGANIC products be on the recall list????

    
    February 12th, 2009 at 1:25 am
61. Shannon:

    Everybody needs to keep in mind. The recall list is growing everyday. The items that are currently “not” on the recall list still may “end up” on the recall list. The safest thing to do for the time being is to avoid all peanut products. Especially for your children. It’s hard I know. My 4 year old son’s favorite thing to eat is PB&J. But better safe than sorry.

    
    February 12th, 2009 at 3:38 am
62. Katherine:

    When will it be safe to begin eating Kashi chewy granola bars again? On the company website, a “Better if used by” date is given, but I would like confirmation that packages that display dates later than this one are all right to buy or keep. THanks.

    
    February 12th, 2009 at 10:29 am
63. Winnie Hsia:

    @Katherine We have removed the products that are known to be affected by the recall from our shelves. Beyond that, since Kashi is the manufacturer, they will be the ones who can provide you more answers about the safety of their bars beyond that is publically stated on their website and the FDA website. You can find their direct contact information here: http://www.kashipeanutbutterrecall.com/ and the latest FDA recall updates here: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/brand_list.cfm?brand=Kashi%20TLC&cat=Snack%20Bar. Hope that addresses your concerns!

    
    February 12th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
64. WFshopper:

    So for people like Phillip and Nate – Is Whole Foods supposed to go around and make sure every company that supplies them food washes there hands? Bottom line is PCA lied… what a shocker that people in this world actually lie! Why dont you email Kashi, LUNA, Mojo or any other brand on that list to let them know how outraged you are. And as for being an honorable company I think how Whole Foods runs the compnay is pretty honorable and incomparable. For your information the USDA doesnt always care about the organic standards, if you picked up a book you would read that the USDA can easily call unorganic products “organic”. They only care about Money here, which obviously is the same as PCA. Whole Foods is doing its part in picking up the peices for its “loyal” customers.

    
    February 12th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
65. Phillip:

    @WFshopper – For your information I HAVE CONTACTED OTHER COMPANIES. And just so you know the facts are, if you read a book, that WF is not incomparable. WF is, to quote a certain book, a facade. Do you really think WF isn’t about the money?!? Who is being naive now?

    And yes, the USDA and OCIA are a joke, obviously. That is why I again say, WF as the largest “health food” supermarket in the country should take the lead in working with the new administration to devise a new way for our country to determine what is organic and how to better safeguard the food supply. This administration is open to this discussion, this I know to be a fact. As a final note, a proverb: To whom much is given, much is required. WF has built themselves into the leader in this field, they should lead the way.

    
    February 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
66. Missy:

    @Nate, Phillip, and Whole Foods Market Team Members…
    Nate & Phillip ~ points taken. I agree with you if a business touts itself as a leader in the field, they should then follow through on their promises to their customers to keep the INTEGRITY of their products at the highest levels.

    WFM Team Member: What is happening NOW within Corporate WFM to review processes for qualification of suppliers? Is there a strategy for reviewing current qualification practices, to tighten control and ensure that the suppliers REALLY are processing their products as they claim, to review inspection criteria, to re-evaluate qualification criteria, or re-qualify current suppliers? or is WFM in the “wait and see” mode? I’d like to be able to stand up for WFM as my main source of organic products, but I also see a need, as pointed out by others, for WFM to step up and make a committed and PUBLIC effort to rectify this problem. Can you provide any information on what is being done on the Corporate level?

    
    February 12th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
67. WFshopper:

    I said that “I think” WFs is incomparable.. after all this is a forum where people express there opinions. And in all honesty who isnt about the money?? Look at figures and other major companies that we have relied on to be honest with us. They’ve let us down and many never step forward and own up to it. The honorable thing about Whole Foods is that they have gone above and beyond to fix this problem as much as they can.This is where I respect them and continue my dedication as a shopper. I am done arguing about whose wrong or right here .. I am just so tired of people playing the blame game .. and I’ll guarentee that any other natural food store you all shop at sells some of the recalled products!

    
    February 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
68. Angry Organic Shopper:

    Please add Cascadian farm Sweet and Salty bars, mixed nuts, pretzel and peanut butter, to the recall list. Although they are not listed on the FDA website, are not listed on the Cascadian Farm website and are not listed on the General Mills information line about their recalled products, they are indeed being volutarily recalled because some of the nut products used in Cascadian Farm products were sourced from the Peanut Company of America. I am glad that I was persistent enough to require verification from a person; otherwise I may have given tainted food to my children. Beware, just because an item is not on the FDA list or the company’s website does not mean that it is safe. Be vigilant and protect yourself, to whatever extent that is possible. Good health wishes for all!

    
    February 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
69. Nate:

    @WFShopper… Actually the blame game is pretty important here considering it is people’s LIVES we are playing with here! Don’t fool yourself, this is a LIFE AND DEATH problem.

    Of course PCA lied, but I just get a little suspicious when a company that supplies/handles products for supergiants like Wal-Mart and other “no-name” brands also handle what is supposed to be “top-of-the-line” Organic products for “holier than thou” stores. Also, whats this we heard about failed inspections at PCA?? Cockroaches? Rodents? Other violations like dripping water from the ceiling?? These are things that should have been caught EARLIER before the products hit the shelves and the supplier officially dropped from supplying WF with products. AND! To keep with your point, other brands should have been removed from WF shelves until they cease usage of a supplier that has known health code violations as well.

    I would be interested to hear a timeline of these things including WF’s response to why these things were not heeded/were unable to be heeded.

    
    February 13th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
70. Sally:

    As a small business owner (Simbree Energy Foods) and also an innocent victim of this recall I must say that none of us had any reason to believe that the pnb we were getting from PCA was not of the highest quality. We were sourcing the organic variety from a sub distributor. PCA is criminal in what they did, but we need to hold the FDA responsible for this too. They did not do their job. Because of this have put millions of people at risk not to mention the economic impact on small businesses.

    
    February 13th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
71. KimK:

    How about the peanut oil that seem to be contained in all of the Whole Foods’ bulk nuts? (Roasted almonds, cashews, etc) Is peanut oil exempt from the recall?
    Thanks for your assistance-

    
    February 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
72. snacksound:

    I really hope this fiasco is over soon — I miss the peanut Clif Bar flavors!

    
    February 14th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
73. Nate:

    Following the trail is vital. If you want to be in business selling organic and other “natural” products, you must know where the food you are selling comes from and everything about it! I believe at least WF claims this was their process, and it should be for a company doing this business at that size. But, any person in this industry is asking to be held to the highest standard by labeling their store as being “better” or more “natural” than the others. You can’t market yourself that way, then say “woops” when something happens that shows you can’t stand behind products you sell.

    
    February 15th, 2009 at 9:27 am
74. Paige Brady:

    @KimK: Peanut oil has not been listed by the FDA as a product made by PCA and we haven’t seen anything else to date that indicates it as being a concern with this recall.

    
    February 16th, 2009 at 8:59 am
75. Paige Brady:

    @Nate and others: I just want you all to know that I am gathering your comments and questions to assist our quality assurance team in reviewing all aspects of how we handled this food safety crisis — including communication with our customers about our processes. We do have processes in place for tracing our food sources and I believe your feedback will be taken into account as they review those processes in the coming weeks. But right now they are focused on the health of our customers and managing the food safety recalls. As soon as I have some information from them in response to your concerns about process, I’ll let you know. I just didn’t want you to think that your comments were being ignored.

    Also, just a quick reminder that we have comment posting guidelines http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/comment-posting-guidelines/ listing “no personal attacks” and “no flaming.” Please keep your comments civil so they can be posted. Thanks!

    
    February 16th, 2009 at 9:12 am
76. Jay:

    PCA’s Texas facility has now been implicated in the peanut safety issue. Does your 365 Organic Peanut butter source peanuts from this facility.

    
    February 16th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
77. Paige Brady:

    @Jay: No commercial peanut butter has been implicated, including our 365 brand, which is not sourced from any PCA facility.

    
    February 16th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
78. Paige Brady:

    All: Please refer to our most recent blog post http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2009/02/peanut-recall-21409/ for the latest on the recall.

    
    February 16th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
79. Paige Brady:

    To those of you who have been waiting for answers to your questions, thank you for your understanding and patience. While we certainly don’t have answers to everything at this point, here is what our leadership says at this time:

    At Whole Foods Market, we share our customers’ concern and dismay over the food safety compliance issues that the FDA and other agencies have discovered at PCA’s peanut processing facilities.

    With more than 2,100 products recalled nationwide, we are thankful that the impact on products sold in our stores has been more limited in scope. As you may know, to date none of our 365 Private Label products have been affected by this recall.

    We expect our suppliers to conduct business in a certain manner and we are determined to work with our product manufacturers to address problems that this PCA recall brings to light. While we go about making changes, it is important to note that PCA is facing federal criminal charges for their actions, which include not sharing negative lab results with the manufacturers who bought their products. Their actions affected many vendors, large and small, as well as consumers who became ill. The solution for this must come from a large government and industry effort to ensure the safety of our food supply.

    In addition to recalled products from third-party suppliers that we sell in our stores, we are concerned about some of the bulk products we provided to our customers that came directly or indirectly from PCA facilities. (These products have been removed from our shelves or recalled.) We always expect our suppliers to conduct business in compliance with all laws and to follow all regulatory procedures. Now, however, we are revising our policies and procedures around bulk products, both prepacked and bin items. We are actively working with our suppliers to establish more stringent protocols for these products.

    Due to the empowerment of our stores for local and regional buying, our supply chain is very diverse. While we take great pride in the fact that our stores carry local products and go above and beyond to try to meet our customers’ needs, it is a bit unwieldy when one of the largest recalls in U.S. history comes knocking at the door. With a nationalized supply chain, we could have more visibility into what each store had in stock that was affected — because every single store would have the exact same products. But we think the trade-off in doing that wouldn’t allow us to be the company our customers and team members want us to be. So, we will continue to offer local buying but we will also work to put systems in place to help monitor our vendors more closely.

    We will also continue to work closely with the suppliers whose products we carry, as well as federal and local government agencies, to learn more about this crisis and work together to prevent recurrences.

    And while we in no way defend PCA or their actions, we do want to clarify a couple of issues. PCA was not considered a “bargain house” in the supply chain. There are varying grades of nuts and we provided top grade nuts in our stores. While other stores may have also carried PCA nuts, if they cost substantially less than ours, they most likely were a different grade of nut. Also, PCA was certified to the USDA’s National Organic Standards by Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), a third-party organic certifier approved by the USDA. The standard requires that the facility prevent commingling between organic and conventional products, that organic products are protected from contamination with synthetic substances, and that the suppliers to the facility are also certified. The standard also requires that all lines are fully cleaned between conventional and organic production. Many facilities process organic and conventional products, and it is the responsibility of the organic certifier to confirm they have processes in place to ensure the products are not commingled.

    We hope this helps answer some of your questions. Please know that we are continually working on this issue and developing ideas on how to better serve you, our customers.

    
    February 19th, 2009 at 1:53 pm