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Salmonella Reports Shut Down Potpie Factory

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By JOSH FUNK, The Associated Press

Published: October 10, 2007

OMAHA, Neb. - ConAgra Foods voluntarily stopped production Tuesday at the Missouri plant that makes its Banquet potpies after health officials said the pies may be linked to 139 cases of salmonella in 30 states.
ConAgra officials say the company's pies are safe if cooked properly, but the Omaha-based company told consumers Tuesday not to eat its chicken or turkey potpies until the government and company investigations are complete. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a health alert Tuesday afternoon to warn consumers about the link between the company's product and the salmonella cases.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking reports of the salmonella cases since Wednesday. A CDC spokeswoman said the largest numbers of cases had been reported in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Missouri.

Salmonella sickens about 40,000 people a year in the United States and kills about 600. Most of the deaths are among people with weaker immune systems, such as the elderly or very young. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting. Most cases of salmonella poisoning are caused by undercooked eggs and chicken.

So far no deaths have been linked to the potpies.

This year, ConAgra had to recall all of its peanut butter because it was linked to a different salmonella outbreak.

USDA said the Missouri plant made Banquet and generic store brand potpies. All of the potpies made at the plant in question have 'P-9' printed on the side of the box as part of a code above the use-by date.
ConAgra spokeswoman Stephanie Childs said she didn't know how many people worked at the Marshall plant or what would happen to them in the shut down.

Federal officials said consumers shouldn't throw away or eat the chicken or turkey potpies until the Food Safety and Inspection Service can determine the source of the salmonella contamination and verify proper cooking instructions.
ConAgra is offering consumers refunds, but no recall of potpies was being planned.

Childs said ConAgra is confident in the safety of its chicken and turkey potpies when all the cooking instructions on the package are followed. It is important to follow the directions when the pies are cooked in a microwave.

Potpies need to be cooked longer in microwaves that have less power, Childs said. A sign that the potpie is done is when steam rises out of it.

Childs said the cooking will kill any common pathogens routinely found in uncooked products that contain poultry.

Michigan State University food microbiologist Elliot Ryser said consumers shouldn't have to worry much about potpies as long as they are completely cooked.

Cooking potpies in a microwave can be problematic because microwaves heat food unevenly, said Ryser, who is part of the university's National Food Safety & Toxicology Center.

Consumers who want a refund should send the side panel of the package that contains the 'P-9' location code to: ConAgra Foods, Dept. BQPP, P.O. Box 3768, Omaha NE 68103-0768. Consumers with questions can call at 1-866-484-8671.

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