Penn takes the 'PB' out of 'PB&J;' | Interactive feature

As the new semester began, many students encountered unfamiliar white signs at the dining halls and vending machines telling them that products prepared with peanut butter have been removed.

Since January, nationwide recalls on peanut products have been made as the Food and Drug Administration alerted the public to a salmonella outbreak - and Penn is following suit.

The FDA recently confirmed that the illnesses caused by salmonella come from peanut butter and peanut paste products from the Peanut Corporation of America processing plant in Blakely, Georgia.

"When an alert is issued by the FDA, Penn Dining immediately stops using the recalled product," wrote director of communications and external relations for Business Services Barbara Lea-Kruger in an e-mail.

She explained that Penn Dining removed the recalled items from both dining halls and its retail operations on campus.

Penn Dining's residential facilities have stopped using peanuts, peanut paste and peanut products since Jan. 21, when all peanuts and peanut products from the Georgia plant were recalled.

"Because the investigation is ongoing and the list of suspected items from the FDA keeps expanding, we have taken a conservative, proactive stance," Lea-Kruger wrote.

However, only recalled items have been removed at the retail locations so far.

"At Penn, students' expectations are that we provide a variety of choices so that they may make their own purchasing decisions across campus, especially if they are preparing their own meals," Lea-Kruger added. "One of Penn Dining's top priorities is to ensure that the food we serve is of the highest quality within the safest environment possible."

According to the FDA, PCA expanded the list of recalled items includes peanut granules, peanut meal, dry- and oil-roasted peanuts, peanut butter and peanut paste.

Since the investigation is ongoing, it may be a while before students see peanut butter products on Penn's campus again.

"It is unclear at this point when peanut butter based products will return," Lea-Kruger wrote. "We will continue to monitor all information available from the FDA and our suppliers."

Many Penn students welcome Penn Dining's current measures.

"It was appropriate, since Penn made people feel more comfortable," College junior Scott Ugras said.

However, some students say they want to see more of Penn's efforts to ensure their safety.

"I think it's a good idea, but Penn has not advertised the reasoning behind the removal of the peanut butter products," Wharton freshman Aneesha Narra said.

"Penn should make the student body aware of the outbreak," she added. "I recently saw friends buying a peanut butter product without knowing about the outbreak."

Ugras agreed that Penn should "explain the background to know how we can prevent this in the future, and think about solutions," he said.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.