The outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney linked to Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter has grown to include 35 people in 19 states. Eight people have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths. Sixty-three percent of outbreak victims are children under the age of 10.
The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (5), Connecticut (3), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (1), Texas (5), Virginia (1), and Washington (2). There are three new cases in California, one in Missouri, and one in Texas. Illness onset dates range from June 14, 2012 to September 18, 2012. Ill persons range in age from less than 1 year to 79 years. The median age is 7 years.
The investigation has found that the Trader Joe’s product is the “likely source of this outbreak”. Testing by the Washington State Department of Agriculture found the outbreak strain of the bacteria in an opened jar of Trader Joe’s Creamy Peanut Butter collected from a patient’s home.
Sunland has expanded its recall to include all products made in their nut butter production facility between March 1, 2012 and September 24, 2012. And the FDA announced today that environmental samples taken in the facility showed Salmonella was present. Based on available information, the CDC recommends that consumers do not eat recalled peanut butter or other products containing nuts and seeds. This is especially important for children under the age of 5, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
If you have experienced the symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning, including diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever, see your health care provider immediately. Long range complications of salmonellosis can be severe, including Reiter’s syndrome (reactive arthritis), and heart disease.
