Recalled peanuts found in school inventories
by Tom Weber, Minnesota Public RadioEditor's Note:
A previous version of this story originally reported the total of recalled peanuts amounted to 2.5 tons. Since that report, the Minnesota Department of Education informed MPR that it had supplied incorrect data. With the correct data, the weight of all recalled peanuts amounts to only 1,800 pounds, just under one ton.
Also on Feb. 12, the Department announced that two more schools had reported finding recalled peanuts, bringing the total statewide to 96.33 cases of peanuts in 18 schools. The total weight is now 2,300 pounds of peanuts.
St. Paul, Minn. — At least 16 schools across Minnesota have found more than 1,800 pounds of recalled peanuts in their inventories and are now working to destroy those items.
The state Education Department started contacting nearly 200 schools about two weeks ago to tell them they had received a shipment of now-recalled dry and oil-roasted peanuts.
That shipment, though, was more than a year ago, making it likely many of the nuts had already been eaten.
The state now says it's found more than 75 cases of peanuts at 16 schools that hadn't yet been eaten. Those schools now have a week to follow specific instructions on destroying the products.
The peanuts came from a plant in Georgia that is now closed and is tied to a nationwide salmonella scare. The outbreak is blamed for at least three deaths in Minnesota, all at nursing homes.
The schools that now have to destroy peanuts also can get reimbursed for doing so.
Number of cans by district
- Blooming Prairie - 48
- Brandon - 18
- Chatfield - 102
- Cook County - 42
- Dilworth Glyndon Felton - 6
- Edgerton Christian Elementary School - 12
- Edgerton - 8
- Emanuel Lutheran School - 18
- Eveleth Gilbert - 18
- Fond Du Lac Reservation - 9
- Marian St. Mary's School - 6
- Morris - 36
- Round Lake - 3
- South Koochiching - 12
- St. Michael Albertville - 126
- Warroad - 108
- Wheaton - 6
Total (16 schools) - 578 cans of peanuts
