Sunland Inc. is recalling Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The Trader Joe’s recall of its Valencia peanut butter and association with a Salmonella Bredeney outbreak that has sickened 29 people in 18 states may be related to this recall, since Sunland makes that brand of peanut butter. This recall does mention the states with ill persons: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Those people became ill between June 11, 2012 and September 2, 2012.
UPDATE 9/25/12: The list of recalled products is huge. You can find the complete list on the FDA web site. The recalled brands include Archer Farms, Earth Balance, Fresh & Easy, Heinen’s, Joseph’s, Natural Value, Naturally More, Open Nature, Peanut Butter, Serious Food, Snaclite Power, Sprouts Farmers Market, Sprout’s, Sunland, Dogsbutter, and Trader Joe’s. The best-if-used-by dates on the recalled products are between May 1, 2013 and September 24, 2013.
The sizes of the recalled products range from 16 ounces to 40 and 500 pounds. That means the products were distributed to retail stores and to institutional establishments.
If you have purchased any of these products, do not eat them. You can contact the company at 1-866-837-1018 24/7 for more information or questions. Sunland has made a consumer representative available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 MT at 575-356-6638.
The symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps. The elderly, young children, those with chronic diseases, and those with compromised immune systems can develop serious illnesses which include infected aneurysms, endocarditis, and reactive arthritis. If you have eaten peanut butter and are experiencing these symptoms, please see your healthcare provider immediately.
