The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the registration of Sunland, a peanut butter producer linked to a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney that has sickened 41 people in 20 states.
FDA said that it decided to suspend Sunland's registration as its products were linked to an outbreak of Salmonella and the company had a history of violations that compromised food safety.
FDA registration is required for any facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food, and suspension of the registration means that the facility is prohibited from distributing food for sale.
Sunland, which operates a facility in New Mexico, issued a recall of its products in September after its products were linked to a Salmonella outbreak, and the recall was later expanded to include additional products.
The products were sold under various brands names to Trader Joe's, Target, Whole Foods, Safeway, and other large grocery chains.
The company voluntarily shut down its facility in November 2012 and was planning to reopen the facility this month.
FDA said that an evaluation of Sunland's product testing records revealed that 11 product lots of nut butter were contaminated with Salmonella between June 2009 and September 2012.
Between March 2010 and September 2012, the company sold eight product lots of nut butter that were contaminated with Salmonella.
In addition, the FDA identified the presence of Salmonella in food products as well as in samples collected in the production areas between September and October 2012.
FDA noted that Sunland will have the opportunity to request an informal hearing on issues related to the order, and its license would be restored only if the agency determines that the company has implemented necessary procedures to manufacture safe products.
This is the first time that FDA has used its registration suspension authority, under the Food Safety Modernization Act, which was signed by President Barack Obama in January 2011.
The Act gives FDA the authority to suspend license if the food produced by a facility can lead to serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.
