The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) ongoing investigation of a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections linked to tainted peanut butter and peanut butter products reveals 38 people in 20 states have been sickened by the outbreak. As of Oct. 24, 10 individuals have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Among persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from June 14, 2012, to Sept. 21, 2012. Ill persons range in age from less than 1 year to 79 years, with a median age of 7 years. Sixty-six percent of ill persons are children under the age of 10 years.
Analysis conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that environmental samples showing the presence of Salmonella bacteria in Sunland’s nut butter facility in Portales, N.M., have a DNA fingerprint that is the same as the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney. Sunland has ceased the production and distribution of all products from both its nut butter facility and its peanut processing facility.
On Sept. 22, Trader Joe’s was the first retailer to recall the suspected peanut butter that was made by Portales, N.M.-based Sunland, Inc. Trader Joe’s recalled 16-ounce jars of Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter and removed it from its shelves nation after it was notified by the FDA of the outbreak. The recall was expanded numerous times during September and October, and includes more than 100 brands of peanut butter, nut butters and other products, such as cookies and snacks, made with nuts and seeds.
Brand names recalled include Archer Farms, Earth Balance, Fresh & Easy, Late July, Harry and David, Heinen’s, Joseph’s, Natural Value, Naturally More, Newman’s Own, Open Nature, Peanut Power Butter, Serious Food, Snaclite Power, Sprouts Farmers Market, Sprout’s, Starbucks, Sunland, Dogsbutter, Whole Foods Market among others. (Click here for the most up to date recall list).
CDC has confirmed illnesses in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
