Peanut Butter Recall 2012: 240 Products Recalled

The FDA has revealed that environmental samples taken in the Sunland Inc. nut butter production facility show the presence of Salmonella.

Sunland Inc. has 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.

According to a company release, the company is voluntarily expanding the recall to cover all products manufactured in its Peanut Butter Plant since March 2010 because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.

Sunland Inc. said all products with "Best-If-Used-By" dates of March 1, 2011 or later should be returned or discarded immediately.

"Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products are urged not to eat them and to return or dispose of them immediately," the company said in a release.

The "Best-If-Used-By" date is stamped on the side of the jar's label below the lid of the jar. The UPC is located below the bar code on all products. For products in jars it will appear on the side of the jar's label. For products in other types of containers, the bar code may be located elsewhere on the packaging.

The FDA, the CDC and state and local public health officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of SalmonellaBredeney infections linked to peanut butter made by Sunland Inc. of Portales, New Mexico.

According to the CDC, 35 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney from 19 states.

According to the CDC, most persons infected with Salmonella develop 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. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

A list of products added to recall can be found on the company's webiste.