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thedrifter
02-11-09, 07:51 AM
Salmonella Tainted Treats Sent to Troops?
WTMJ-TV and JSOnline.com
updated 7:54 a.m. CT, Wed., Feb. 11, 2009

The West Side Soldiers Aide Society was just trying to help Marines fighting in Afghanistan, but they soon learned the care packages they sent were likely filled with contaminated food.

MILWAUKEE - "We just wanted to pack, nutritious, helpful items," Patricia Lynch of the West Side Soldiers Aide Society said about sending care packages to Marines in Afghanistan. When the group got word the troops were losing weight, they packed 50 boxes full of high protein food, including peanut butter crackers and peanut butter granola bars. "Almost a third were those kind of items," Lynch said. That was before the holidays, and before the salmonella outbreak. The group says Sam's Club, where they bought the items in bulk, emailed and called their members to let them know the products they bought were among the batches that were likely contaminated with salmonella after peanut butter products were recalled. "It really bothers me because there was no way for us to notify the Marines that these items were dangerous," Lynch said. TODAY'S TMJ4 contacted the United States Marine Corps about the care packages. The Marines say since the area where the Marines are stationed is so remote, that there is a chance the packages haven't even reached the troops yet. Patricia Lynch and her friends are hoping that's the case. "It's really distressing," Lynch said. "On top of everything they're suffering, living in an area without water, electricity, and just really immense hardships. So it really bothered me that they could be sick from what we sent." The Marines says they are working to contact the troops who are supposed to get the care packages, but say because that area is so remote, that there really is no way to tell if the troops already got the packages, or if anybody got sick.

Ellie