Peanut Butter Recall 2012: Sunland, Inc. Disappointed by FDA's Decision

Sunland, Inc. said it is disappointed by the Food and Drug Administration's decision to suspend Sunland Inc.'s Food Facility Registration from distributing food in the "interest of protecting public health."

"Sunland's goal remains the same -- to take all appropriate measures for the safe processing and handling of raw peanuts in its shelling plant and the safe production of nut butter products in its peanut butter plant" the company said in a release. "Sunland is continuing to work with FDA in order to accomplish all steps necessary to begin shelling operations in its peanut mill as soon as possible."

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."

Sunland said it has been working with the FDA and other experts over the last two months to analyze data, and develop and implement proposed corrective actions in order to be in a position to reopen first the shelling plant and then the peanut butter plant. These plans were submitted to FDA in our response to the inspection observations (Form 483).

The company called the FDA's actions "unexpected."