Peanut Butter Recall 2012: FDA Suspends Sunland Peanut Butter Plant

Nearly two months after the Food And Drug Administration recalled over 200 peanut butter products, the government agency has suspended Sunland Inc.'s Food Facility Registration from distributing food in the "interest of protecting public health.

Peanut Butter made by the company was linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney that has sickened 41 people in 20 states and the FDA said Sunland's "history of violations" led to the suspension.

"A review of Sunland Inc.'s product testing records showed that 11 product lots of nut butter showed the presence of Salmonella between June 2009 and September 2012," the FDA said in a statement. "Between March 2010 and September 2012, at least a portion of 8 product lots of nut butter that Sunland Inc.'s own testing program identified as containing Salmonella was distributed by the company to consumers."

Jimmie Shearer, president and CEO of Sunland Inc., said the company has followed internal testing protocols that it believed resulted in the isolation and destruction of any product that did not pass the test designed to detect the presence of any contaminants.

"At no time in its twenty four year history has Sunland, Inc. released for distribution any products that it knew to be potentially contaminated with harmful microorganisms," Shearer said. "The Company believed at all times that its response was sufficiently robust such that any product which might be contaminated was isolated and destroyed."

This was the FDA's first use of its registration suspension authority, under the Food Safety Modernization Act, which enables the agency to take this action when food manufactured, processed, packed, received, or held by a facility has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, and other conditions are met.

The FDA said during its inspection of Sunland's plant in September and October, the presence of Salmonella was found on surfaces in production or manufacturing areas.

"The suspension order offers Sunland, Inc. the opportunity to request an informal hearing on certain issues related to the order," the FDA said. "If, after providing this opportunity, the FDA determines that the suspension remains necessary, the FDA will require Sunland, Inc. to submit a corrective action plan to address the immediate problems and to implement a sustainable solution to those problems in a sound scientific manner. The FDA will reinstate Sunland, Inc.'s registration only when FDA determines that the company has implemented procedures to produce safe products."