News

The scale of the tainted peanut butter salmonella-outbreak touches nearly everyone.

Peanut butter is a food much-loved, by rich and poor, and in all parts of the country—as the number of product recalls proves.

Is There Any Inexpensive Equal to Peanut Butter Nutritionally?

As of yet, no one has offered suggestions about any nutritionally-equal, inexpensive alternatives to peanut butter for food banks—-if one even exists.

Any recommended peanut butter substitute would have to come from the federal-level before organizations  feel safe about making a change like that.

In communities, people need to know if there is a safe substitute.

In communities where people can contribute to food banks, individuals who will contribute replacement items or money could make a difference in off-setting this blow.

This is a devastating development for food backs at a time when more people need them than they have for many years.

U.S. News and World Report

“U.S. food banks are throwing out thousands of pounds of food products recalled in the nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to Peanut Corp. of America.

“The discarded products include peanut butter, cereals, cookies, nut mixes and granola bars, items which are vital to food banks because of their long shelf life and durability, the Associated Press reported.

“The Houston Food Bank has thrown out 3,000 pounds of recalled products. The Cleveland Food Clinic has tossed out 1,000 pounds of food and has put another several thousands pounds of food on snacks on hold until the recall list is finalized. More than 1,300 pounds of food has been discarded or quarantined at the Food Finders Food Bank Inc. in Lafayette, Ind.

“At a time when food banks are struggling, everything inevitably has an impact,” Karen Ponza, spokeswoman for the Cleveland Food Clinic, told the AP.”

Source:  U.S. News and World Report, February 17, 2009