New Mexico's Food Company Sunland Inc. announced a recall of its peanut butter and peanut products stocked in major food markets on on Friday, October 12.
Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Trader Joe's, Target, Costco, and Kroeger are all being encouraged to remove Sunland Inc. products from its shelves.
Over 400 products have been listed to be possibly tainted with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weak immune systems. Diarrhea, fevers, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps are symptoms of salmonella infection.
According to the Center of Disease Control, 35 people have been infected in 19 states. Eight people of those infected have been hospitalized.
On September 24, Sunland
Inc. originally initiated a recall for its peanut butter and other peanut
products due to their suspicions concerning the contamination. Reports showed
that 29 people filed claims of Salmonella Bredeney PFGE illnesses in 18 states.
Of those interviewed, 12 of 14 reported to have eaten the same single product
from Sunland, Inc.
The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to eat products from the company and to discard them immediately.
Roasted, salted and raw peanuts are being recalled along with moon pies, ice creams and other products that may have contained Salmonella-tainted peanuts from the company.
A detailed list of recalled products can be found on the company's website.
Sunland Inc. has ceased
production and distribution of products from its peanut butter plant and peanut
processing plant as they and the FDA continue their investigation.