Guidance for salmonella in peanut products
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
FDA issues guidance to assist manufacturers of products containing peanut ingredients in avoiding contamination by salmonella bacteria. The March 11 guidance advises firms to "obtain peanut-derived product only from suppliers with validated processes in place to adequately reduce the presence of salmonella." FDA suggests companies not rely on a history of negative microbiological tests for salmonella in finished peanut product, as this does not ensure the adequacy of a supplier's procedures for controlling bacteria. Peanut-containing products recalled recently in the salmonella outbreak include nutritional bars, though industry experts say dietary supplement ingredients generally do not harbor harmful bacteria (1"The Tan Sheet" Jan. 26, 2009, p. 8)