The CDC has just updated its investigation into the Salmonella Bredeney outbreak that is associated with Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter with Sea Salt. A collaborative investigation indicate that product is a likely source of the outbreak. So far, 30 people are ill in 19 states. One person in Nevada has been added to the case count.
Salmonella lawyer Fred Pritzker has been contacted by potential victims of this outbreak and has launched an independent investigation. “These 30 people, and most likely many more, suffered severe pain due to a collapse of food safety measures, and Trader Joe’s and Sunland, Inc need to take responsibility,” said Pritzker. “While Salmonella litigation is pending, the companies should quickly alleviate the acute financial burden on victims who have incurred substantial medical bills.” Pritzker, who can be reached for a free consultation here, represented several people sickened and the families of people who died in the peanut butter Salmonella outbreak linked to Peanut Corporation of America.
The case count by state is as follows: Arizona (1), California (2), Connecticut (3), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nevada (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (1), Texas (4), Virginia (1), and Washington (2). Four people have been hospitalized, and no one has died. Illness onset dates range from June 11, 2012 to September 11, 2012. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 77 years; with a median age of 7 years. Sixty-three percent of ill persons are under the age of 10.
Trader Joe’s recalled its peanut butter on September 22, 2012. Sunland, Inc., the maker of that product, recalled dozens of peanut butter and almond butter products on September 24, 2012. The CDC is recommending that consumers not eat recalled peanut butter “and other products containing nuts and seeds” and dispose of any remaining jars, or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. The government continues to investigate this outbreak to see if any other foods may be a source of the pathogenic bacteria.
The symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps that usually begin 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment, but some people, particularly the young, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, may become so ill they need to be hospitalized. If you have eaten peanut butter, almond butter, or any of the other recalled products and have experienced these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
