Last year’s deadly salmonella outbreak linked to peanut products will have no long term impact on peanut demand and production, according to a report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS).
USDA figures show that consumers bought near-record quantities of peanuts over the past year, despite a salmonella outbreak blamed for nine deaths and more than 700 illnesses.
A glut of peanuts on the back of a bumper crop could come as a blessing for food manufacturers, providing a supply of peanuts for those who eventually wish to replace products that have been discarded.
The American Peanut Council is being cautious over the potential long-term impact of salmonella contamination on the industry, as the recall of salmonella-contaminated peanut products goes global.
