Tag: Trader Joe’s

FDA Confirms Salmonella Outbreak Strain At Sunland Facility

FDA announced today (October 13th) that it has confirmed a genetic match between the strain of Salmonella Bredeney that has sickened 35 persons and the strain that the agency recovered from Sunland Inc.‘s nut butter production environment in Portales, New Mexico.

In addition, FDA recovered Salmonella from the environment of a separate building where peanuts are processed, and from raw peanuts sampled in that building. Yesterday, Sunland expanded its previous recalls yet again to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts. The company has ceased production and distribution of all products from both its nut butter facility and its peanut processing facility.

CDC first reported the outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney illnesses on September 22nd. At that time, epidemiological evidence pointed to Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt as the likely source of the outbreak. Subsequent tests carried out by the Washington State Department of Agriculture recovered the outbreak strain from an opened jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Cream Peanut Butter collected from the home of an outbreak victim.Trader Joe’s peanut and other nut butter products are manufactured by Sunland, Inc.

As of October 5th, 35 outbreak illnesses were confirmed in 19 states; eight people hospitalized; no deaths. Illness onset dates range from June 14, 2012 to September 18, 2012. Illnesses were reported by 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).

Here’s what FDA had to say today:

The FDA announced that on October 12, Sunland Inc. expanded its ongoing recall to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts sold in quantities from 2 ounces to 50 pounds which are within their current shelf life or have no stated expiration date.

Since late September, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health officials have been investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections linked to a peanut butter made by Sunland Inc. As part of the continuing investigation, the FDA has been inspecting the Sunland Inc. production facilities, including a building in which peanuts are processed and a separate building in which nut butters are made. FDA testing has found the presence of Salmonella in raw peanuts from the peanut processing facility. Environmental samples taken from this building also show the presence of Salmonella. Environmental samples are samples taken from various surfaces in the production or manufacturing facility that would likely harbor bacteria.

Additionally, FDA analysis has confirmed that environmental samples showing the presence of Salmonella in Sunland’s nut butter facility have a DNA fingerprint that is the same as the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney.

Sunland Inc. reports that it has ceased the production and distribution of all products from both its nut butter facility and its peanut processing facility.

Sunland raw and roasted peanuts available to retail customers are distributed primarily under the company’s own label and were distributed primarily to produce houses and nationally to numerous large supermarket, grocery and retail chains. The products also were available for purchase on the internet.

A list of all products being recalled by Sunland Inc. can be found in the company’s recall announcement.

Consumers should not eat the recalled products. This is especially important for children under the age of 5 years, elderly adults, and people with weak immune systems.

The latest recall expansion already is triggering an additional series of secondary and tertiary recalls as Sunland’s customers scramble to pull foods containing the recalled peanuts and nut butters off the market. eFoodAlert’s Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recall page will be updated to reflect the additional recalls.

Recalls and Alerts: September 24, 2012

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

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United States

  • Allergy Alert: Hanover Pike Enterprises, Inc. (Hampstead, MD) recalls Pepper Jelly (8-oz and 4-oz jars), Green Pepper Jelly (8-oz and 4-oz jars), Blackberry Brandy Jam (4-oz and 9-oz jars) and Peach Brandy Jam (4-oz and 9-oz jars), because the products may contain undeclared milk and soy. The items were distributed nationwide through retail stores and via the company website under the label “Jill’s Jams Mixes and More” or “Jill’s Jams and Jellies”.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Trader Joe’s expands its earlier recall to include Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter (sku 97111), Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds (sku 98927) and Almond Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds (sku 94079), because of potential contamination with Salmonella. The products are packed in 16-oz plastic jars; All code dates up to and including 24SEPT13 are affected. The CDC has named Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter as a ‘likely source’ of 29 cases of Salmonella Bredeney infections in 18 US states.
  • Food Safety Recall: Sunland, Inc. recalls Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products manufactured between May 1, 2012 and September 24, 2012, because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were distributed nationally to numerous large supermarket chains under a number of different brands, including Trader Joe’s.
  • Food Safety Recall: Haggen Northwest Fresh and TOP Food & Drug recall a number of ground beef items sold in Washington and Oregon, because the product contains trimmings that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Please consult the Canada/USA Ground Beef Recall tab for a detailed list of recalled products and retail distribution.
  • Food Safety Recall: Albertsons recalls ground beef products that contain beef trimmings that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled products were sold in Albertsons stores in Washington, Oregon and three Northern Idaho cities (Coeur d’Alene, Hayden and Lewiston. Please consult the Canada/USA Ground Beef Recall tab for a detailed list of recalled products and retail distribution.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Maison des viandes (Rouyn-Noranda, QC) recalls a number of pies and pâtés (sold up to 21 September 2012), due to the presence of undeclared eggs, sulfites, or mustard.
  • Food Safety Recall: Salaison La Maison du Rôti (Montréal, QC) recalls Sauce Viande et Champignons, La Maison du Rôti (2-liter and 3-liter glass jars; Best before 15 November), because the product was not prepared in a manner that would ensure its microbiological safety and was displayed and sold without refrigeration.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Israel): Tapugan Industries Company Ltd. recalls Waffles Frozen Mashed Potato Puree (500g package; UPC barcode 7290012884467; Expiry date 01.31.2014), because the product may be contaminated with plastic pieces.
  • Food Safety/Outbreak Notification Update (EU #2012.1302): Salmonella Dublin outbreak suspected to be caused by raw milk cheese from France; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Nigeria, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Cerebos (Australia) Ltd. recalls Foster Clark’s Snak Pack – Chocolate (2 x 140gm; Best before 21 AUG 2013, 22 AUG 2013, 23 AUG 2013 and 06 SEP 2013), Foster Clark’s Snak Pack – Chocolate (4 x 140gm; Best before 23 AUG 2013, 24 AUG 2013, 06 SEP 2013 and 07 SEP 2013), Foster Clark’s Snak Pack – Strawberry (2 x 140gm; Best Before 03 SEP 2013), Foster Clark’s Snak Pack – Banana (4 x 140gm; Best before 27 AUG 2013 and 28 AUG 2013), and Foster Clark’s Custard Cups – Vanilla (4 x 140gm; Best Before 29 AUG 2013 and 30 AUG 2013), because the products may contain small pieces of plastic. The recalled items were distributed nationally through Woolworths/Safeway, Coles, Bi-Lo, Franklins, IGA, CCC and Pick N Pay (Qld).

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Peanut Butter Recall – Not Just Trader Joe’s

Sunland, Inc., the manufacturer of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter, has recalled all of its Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products manufactured between May 1, 2012 and September 24, 2012.

The recall was initiated, according to the company’s news release, after Sunland learned of the link between its product and 29 cases of Salmonella Bredeney illnesses in 18 states.

Jimmie Shearer, President and CEO of Sunland, Inc. issued the following statement:

“There is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers, particularly the many families who enjoy our peanut butter everyday. 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 September 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.”

The following brands of Peanut Butter and Almond butter are affected: Archer Farms, Earth Balance, fresh & easy, heinen’s, Joseph’s, Natural Value, Naturally More, Open Nature, Peanut Power, Serious Food, Snaclite, Sprouts Farmers Market, Sprout’s, Sunland, and Trader Joe’s. Read the news release, which includes a complete list of recalled products.

Illnesses caused by the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney have been documented in the following nineteen states, although not all of the cases are firmly linked to consumption of peanut butter. This information was amassed from the Sunland news release, alerts issued by various states, and information provided to eFoodAlert by email.

  • Arizona
  • California – 2 cases
  • Connecticut – 3 cases
  • Illinois – 1 case in McLean County with onset in August
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland – 1 case. A child under 18 years old, who was not hospitalized and who has recovered
  • Massachusetts – 3 cases
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota – 1 case
  • Missouri
  • New York – 1 case in New York City
  • North Carolina – 1 case (a child)
  • Pennsylvania – 2 cases
  • Nevada – 1 case in Clark County
  • New Jersey
  • Rhode Island – 1 case
  • Texas – 4 cases
  • Virginia
  • Washington – 2 cases, both male; a child (under 12 years old) from Thurston County and a teen (under 18 years old) from Spokane County

CDC reported on September 22nd that the earliest illness onset date for this outbreak was June 11, 2012; the most recent was September 2nd. Three-fourths (76%) of the outbreak victims are children under 18 years old; two-thirds are male. Four people have been hospitalized.

CDC offers the following Advice to Consumers, Retailers and Others

Contaminated Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter may make people sick.

  • Based on available information, CDC recommends that consumers do not eat recalled Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt and dispose of any remaining jars of this peanut butter product in the home or return the jars to any Trader Joe’s grocery store.
    • This is especially important for children under the age of 5 years, older adults, and people with weak immune systems.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated Trader Joe’s peanut butter should consult their health care providers.
    • Symptoms include:
      • Diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.
      • The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment.
      • See Signs and Symptoms for more information.

Contaminated Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter may still be in consumers’ homes or available for sale on the internet.

  • Consumers who recently purchased recalled Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt are advised not to eat it and dispose of any remaining jars of this peanut butter or return the jars to the any Trader Joe’s grocery store.
  • Trader Joe’s has encouraged consumers to return the product to any Trader Joe’s grocery store for a full refund.
  • Retailers and food service operators should not sell or serve recalled Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt.
  • This product may still be available for sale from internet retailers.

What to do if you have Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter in your home:

  • Dispose of the product immediately or return it to any Trader Joe’s grocery store.
  • Even if some of the peanut butter has been eaten without anyone becoming ill, the rest of the peanut butter should be disposed of or returned.
  • If consumers choose to discard Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt, the product should be disposed of in a closed plastic bag and placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating it.