A total of 35 people have now been confirmed as victims of a salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated peanut butter products.
The manufacturer of these peanut butter and other nut butter products has expanded its original recall and now has called back at least 240 products that include its peanut butter or other potentially tainted ingredients. At least 35 people have contracted salmonella poisoning after eating these products.
According to a company press release, Sunland Inc. expanded its recall late last week and now includes any products that were distributed from its New Mexico manufacturing facility since March 1, 2010. Problems first came to light when national retailer Trader Joe’s initiated a recall on its Creamy Valencia Peanut Butter product. Sunland initially recalled 101 different products that may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. They were manufactured in the company’s Peanut Butter Plant between May 1 and Sept. 24 of this year.Â
At that time, the company was aware of at least 30 illnesses linked to its contaminated products. The company is expanding its recall because it believes these other products, which were manufactured and distributed from the Peanut Butter Plant, may also be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. Ten of the victims have been hospitalized to treat their symptoms. Most of the victims are under the age of 10. As of Sept. 30, a total of 35 victims of the salmonella outbreak have been reported in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Of the 139 products now included in the expanded recall, 49 of them are likely still either on store shelves or in consumers’ homes. The other 90 products are beyond their printed expiration dates but may still be in consumer pantries at home. In addition to Peanut Butter, the expanded recall from Sunland also includes Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, and Tahini products as well as Roasted Blanched Peanut Products, according to the company’s release.
Sunland is a processor of peanut butter and other food products. Its peanut butter is often sold to other food makers which use it in their products. The recall, including those products included in the expansion, are sold in a variety of brand names. In addition to Trader Joe’s, major national retailers like Target, Costco, and Whole Foods Market were recipients of products that contained the recalled peanut butter products from Sunland, according to another report on the recalls.
Archer Farms and Kirkland are among the major name brand products that use Sunland peanut butter and have been recalled as a result. An Associated Press report adds that recalled products were also sold at Safeway, Fresh & Easy, Harry and David, Sprouts, Heinen’s, Stop & Shop, and Giant Food stores.
