UPDATE:  October 13, 2012

The FDA announces 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, which include 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 taken from the Sunland nut butter facility and peanut butter made in the facility show the presence of Salmonella with 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.

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

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections. We are moving quickly to learn as much as possible and prevent additional people from becoming ill. We recognize that people will be concerned about this outbreak, and we will continue to provide updates and advice.

What is the Problem and What is Being Done?

The FDA’s top priority is protecting consumers and ensuring the safety of our food supply. The FDA, the CDC and state and local public health officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections linked to peanut butter made by Sunland Inc. of Portales, New Mexico.  The linked peanut butter was Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter, with a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) identifier of 97111.     

The CDC reports a total of 35 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney from 19 states.   

Once FDA became involved in this fast-moving outbreak investigation, we began coordinating and working closely with the CDC and several state health departments, which have been leading their own investigations.  On September 20, FDA, the CDC and the state of California briefed Trader Joe’s on the status of the investigation, and the company voluntarily removed the suspected product from their store shelves. Trader Joe’s has also posted a customer advisory on their internet page and initiated a recall.   

As part of its investigation, FDA contacted Sunland Inc., which makes Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter.  On September 23, FDA and CDC briefed Sunland Inc. on the status of the investigation and the company voluntarily recalled the almond butter and peanut butter products that were manufactured on the same product line as Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter between May 1 and September 24, 2012.   

On the evening of September 24, Sunland Inc. expanded their recall to about 100 products, which include peanut butter and other products made with nuts and seeds.   

On October 4, Sunland Inc. expanded its ongoing recall to include all products made in the Sunland nut butter production facility between March 1, 2010 and September 24, 2012.  The company reports that it is adding 139 products to the recall, bringing the total number of products being recalled by Sunland Inc. to 240.  

This expansion covered all previously identified Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, and Tahini products as well as Roasted Blanched Peanut Products. New product categories added to the list were several varieties of flavored butters and spreads, including Thai Ginger Butter, Chocolate Butter and Banana Butter.     

In the expansion on October 4, Sunland Inc. added forty-nine (49) products that are currently within the manufacturer’s recommended shelf-life, that is, the “Best-If-Used-By” dates have not expired.  The expansion also covered ninety (90) products consumers may still have in their homes which are older than the “Best-If-Used-By Date”.   

On October 5, The FDA announced that environmental samples taken in the Sunland Inc. nut butter production facility show the presence of Salmonella.  Subsequent analysis determined that Salmonella Bredeney with a DNA fingerprint that is the same as the outbreak strain was present in the samples. 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 peanut butter made in the Sunland nut butter facility shows the presence of Salmonella with a DNA fingerprint that is the same as the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney. Also, testing conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture laboratory isolated the outbreak strain from an opened jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter collected from a case-patient’s home.  

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.  

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

As part of the continuing investigation, the FDA has been inspecting the Sunland Inc. production facilities, which include a building in which peanuts are processed and a separate building in which nut butters are made.  On October 13, FDA announced that 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.   

As the investigation progresses we will keep the public informed.  

What Do Consumers Need To Do?

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.  

For the raw and roasted peanuts sold by Sunland Inc.
Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products are urged to return products within their current shelf life to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them immediately.  The “Best-If-Used-By” date or product expiration date is printed on the packaging.  The UPC used to identify the recalled products is located below the bar code on all products.  

The roasted and roasted/salted peanuts being recalled were distributed during the six month period prior to the recall date (April 12, 2012 – October 12, 2012), and will have best by/expiration dates on the packaging from October 12, 2012 through April 12, 2013.  

The raw peanuts being recalled (shelled and in-shell), were distributed during the twelve months prior to the recall date (October 12, 2011 – October 12, 2012), and will have either best by dates from October 12, 2012 through October 12, 2013 on the packaging, or a “Crop Year” marking on the package of 2011 or 2012, up to and including October 12, 2012.  

In-shell peanuts that were sold in 2, 5 and 10 pound mesh bags (raw, roasted and salted/roasted) do not include an expiration date on the mesh bags.  These products should not be eaten and should be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund or disposed of immediately.   

All expired products should be discarded.  Customers who purchased products directly from the company’s website should discard the products and contact the company at 1-866-837-1018.

For peanut butter and other nut and seed spreads made by Sunland Inc.
All products with “Best-If-Used-By” dates of March 1, 2011 or later should be discarded or returned immediately.  

Consumers who have products which are within their current shelf life (“Best-If-Used-By” dates of October 4, 2012 and later) should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund or discard them. All expired products (“Best-If-Used-By” dates of October 4, 2012 and earlier) should be discarded.  

For products in related recalls by other companies
Consumers should follow the instructions provided in the individual company press releases.