Peanut Butter Recall Expands to Include More Nut and Seed Butters from Multiple Brands
The maker of Trader Joe's peanut butter, Sunland Inc., was the focus of a food recall last week after its Trader Joe's brand Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter was linked to an outbreak of salmonella bredeney.
However, over the last 24 hours, the Food and Drug Administration expanded that recall to eventually include a total of 101 Sunland-made products, spanning across multiple brands. They include peanut, almond and cashew butters, as well as tahini spreads, according to the FDA's latest reports.
NBC News reports the manufacturer's original recall was initiated after their Trader Joe's brand peanut butter was linked to 29 illnesses across 18 states. However, yesterday Sunland voluntarily began expanding that recall to include their other nut and seed butter spreads because all are manufactured on the same equipment.
In addition to its Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter, Trader Joe's in particular saw two more of its products recalled: Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds, Crunchy and Salted, and its Almond Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds, Crunchy and Salted.
For a full list of recalled items, which includes other Sunland-manufactured brands such as Naturally More and Archer Farms, check out Sunland's official press release.
According to the FDA website, the products in question come with a "Best-If-Used-By" Date that falls between May 1, 2013 and September 24, 2013. Consumers can find these dates stamped on the side of the jar's label, below the lid. If a date can't be read, it's always best to follow this FDA guideline: "When in doubt, throw it out."
Agency officials encourage consumers to check their home shelves for recalled products, and if found, recommend throwing them out or returning them to stores for a refund.
Salmonella causes a variety of flu-like symptoms in those who become sickened by it, but it's most dangerous for children and those with compromised immune systems.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, 48,000 people fall ill each year due to foodborne illnesses, and out of those 3,000 annually result in death.
The agency also notes that foodborne contaminations are fully preventable. If you would like tips on how to lower your chances of encountering salmonella in the food you eat, visit the CDC’s Salmonella-Prevention Page.
In light of the recent food recalls, are you staying away from foods you used to consider "safe"? Let us know in the Comments.
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A Bay Area native, Andri Antoniades previously worked as a fashion industry journalist and medical writer. In addition to reporting the weekend news on TakePart, she volunteers as a webeditor for locally-based nonprofits and works as a freelance feature writer for TimeOutLA.com. Email Andri | @andritweets | TakePart.com
