Voluntary Recall Of Almond Butter, Peanut Butter Expands

HARTFORD — Following up on earlier news release about Trader Joe’s stores voluntarily recalling Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter, the Department of Consumer Protection is notifying consumers that new information from the Food and Drug Administration indicates that Sunland, Inc, a producer of numerous brands and types of nut butter products, has now voluntarily recalled a number of its products, including the Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter and two other Trader Joe’s items for risk of salmonella contamination.

“This expanded recall affects a far greater number of brands than earlier believed, and it’s important that consumers, school cafeterias, restaurants, hospitals, and other food preparation sites check their cabinets for these recalled items,” Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said. “Anyone who has any of the recalled nut butters should not eat them, but return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. The department will work to oversee and ensure compliance with this recall.”

According to the company press release, Sunland, Inc almond butter and peanut butter products, manufactured between May 1, 2012, and September 24, 2012, may be contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

Between June 11 and September 2, 29 people, including three in Connecticut, reported Salmonella Bredeney PFGE matching illnesses. Other states reporting illness include Washington, California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration. The products were distributed nationally to numerous large supermarket chains.

This recall applies to products with Best-If-Used-By Dates between May 1, 2013 and September 24, 2013.

Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled almond butter and peanut butter products with the affected UPC and Best-If-Used-By-Dates are urged to discard the product immediately. Consumers can contact the company at 1-866-837-1018, which is operational 24 hours a day, for information on the recall. In addition, a consumer services representative is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm MT at 575-356-6638.

To view the UPC codes of products affected by the recall, visit ct.gov/dcp.