U.S. firm sued as recall of peanut products expands

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Chinese medianet) -- A lawsuit was filed

Tuesday against the Peanut Corp. of America over the salmonella outbreak in

peanut butter, as the recall of possibly contaminated peanut-related products

continue to expand, media reports said.

The suit was filed on behalf

of Vermont residents Gabrielle and Daryl Meunier, whose son, Christopher, 7, took ill Nov.

25, a day after eating Keebler Cheese Peanut Butter Sandwich crackers,reports

quoted to his mother as saying.

He has since recovered. The Keebler crackers are

among those recalled by the Kellogg Co., which listed Peanut Corporation as

among its suppliers, the reports said.

On Tuesday, Peanut butter products continued to

disappear from store shelves as more grocery chains and food companies joined a

growing list of precautionary recalls.

General Mills Inc voluntarily recalled two varieties

of peanut butter-flavored snack bars, saying peanut butter in the products was

sourced from Peanut Corp. of America and may be contaminated with salmonella.

Michigan-based grocer and retailer Meijer recalled

two types of its Meijer Brand sandwich crackers and two types of Meijer Brand

ice cream sold in its stores and gas stations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana,

Illinois and Kentucky.

The Kroger Co., of Cincinnati, announced the

precautionary recall of its Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion ice cream in

select stores.

The Food and Drug Administration has advised

consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing

peanut butter until health officials learn more about the contamination. Most

peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets appears to be safe, officials said.

(Agencies)