Peanut Butter Recall: Trader Joe's, Sunland Pull Back Jars After Salmonella Outbreak
A peanut butter recall initially confined to a brand sold under supermarket chain Trader Joe’s own label has expanded to multiple brands from its supplier following a salmonella outbreak.
Sunland Inc., the provider of Trader Joe’s Valencia Peanut Butter, announced a voluntary recall of dozens of other peanut butter products that were produced with the same equipment as the Trader Joe’s brand, the Associated Press reported. A full list of the recalled peanut butter products can be found at a news release announcing the recall here.
Trader Joe’s initiated a recall of its Valencia Peanut Butter on Monday after it learned the variety of peanut and almond butters may have been contaminated with salmonella.
Between June 11 and Sept. 2, 29 people reported salmonella poisoning in 18 states.
The bacteria, which leads to about 400 deaths a year, causes those infected by it to suffer diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours of becoming infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Salmonella poisoning usually lasts between four to seven days. Most sufferers don’t need treatment, but those with a severe case need to be hospitalized because the infection can reach the bloodstream, according to the CDC.
“At this time the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health agencies are investigating whether there are direct links between these products and reported illnesses,” Trader Joe's said in a statement. “Trader Joe's is fully cooperating with these authorities because there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and crew, and the quality of our products. All of these products have been removed from store shelves and destroyed.”
Sunland followed up the Trader Joe’s recall with its own. Peanut and almond butter jars with a best-if-used-by date stamped between May 1, 2013 and Sept. 24, 2013 are affected by the recall. You can find the best-if-used-by date on the label below the lid.
"There is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers, particularly the many families who enjoy our peanut butter every day,” the company said in a statement. “While FDA, CDC, and state health agencies investigate to confirm the cause of illnesses reported, as a precautionary step, we have decided to voluntarily recall our Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products manufactured between May 1, 2012 and Sept. 24, 2012. If you purchased these products, do not eat them. Please return the product to your supermarket for a full refund or dispose of it."
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