Purchased Peanut Butter Or Almond Butter Recently? Check Out These Recalls

New updates added to the end of the article on October 5th.  

Sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park for 3 long days, my husband, daughter, and I carried along peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day because that was the safest lunch we could think of that was shelf stable and delicious. I was saddened and a bit disillusioned by this extensive recall that has, so far, caused 29 illnesses in 18 states.  Evidently, no food is totally safe from contamination.

The specific peanut butter products being recalled include Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter and several other brands produced by Sunland, Inc.  Contaminated product might have wound up in homes, schools, hospitals, restaurants, and other food preparation sites, so if you've purchased peanut butter or almond butter recently, check out the details in this article and in the links listed below the article under "sources."

The reason for the recall is a salmonella outbreak associated with identified peanut butter and   almond butter products. So far, no cause of this contamination has been announced. 

For details about the products and the contact people at the companies involved, read on.

Trader Joe's:

Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter (produced by Sunland) was distributed to Trader Joe’s stores nationwide. This recalled product comes in a 16 oz. plastic jar with an expiration date stamped below the lid.  All code dates are included in this recall—up to and including 26JUL13 (July 26, 2013).

Production and distribution of the item has been suspended while the FDA and the Valencia Peanut Butter supplier continue their investigations. Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Sunland, Inc.:

Sunland, Inc announced a voluntary limited recall of its almond butter and peanut butter products manufactured between May 1, 2012 and September 24, 2012 because these products may be contaminated with salmonella. According to USA Today, Sunland has now recalled 76 peanut, almond, and cashew products because of possible salmonella contamination. 

The voluntary recall was initiated after learning that between June 11, 2012 and September 2, 2012, twenty-nine people reported Salmonella bredeney PFGE matching illnesses in approximately 18 states, including Washington, California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland, according to a report issued on September 22, 2012 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The brand names of these products include the following: Sunland, Archer Farms, Fresh & easy, Joseph's, Natural Value, Open Nature, and others. More than a dozen Sunland brands are involved in this recall.  Three of these recalled products are sold at Trader Joe's. To see the complete list of brands and read about the symptoms of salmonella, click here:  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm320647.htm

This recall applies to those products listed on the link above with best-if-used-by dates between May 1, 2013 and September 24, 2013. (The date is stamped on the side of the jar's label below the lid.)

Consumers who have purchased Sunland's Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products with the above dates are urged to discard the product immediately. Consumers can contact the company at 1-866-837-1018, which is operational 24 hours a day, for information on the recall. In addition, a consumer services representative is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM MT at (575) 356-6638.

UPDATES:

Sunland, Inc. announced that its recall has now expanded to include its Cashew Butter, Tahini, and Roasted Blanched Peanut Products. This recall is limited to products manufactured between May 1, 2012 and September 24, 2012. For more information, click here: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm320818.htm?source=govdelivery

Chattanooga Bakery, Inc., maker of MoonPie® and LookOut!™ branded snacks, announced a recall of its Peanut Butter Crunch products with “best by” dates of 02/26/13, 03/25/13, and 04/29/13 because Sunland was the supplier of the company's peanuts.  For more information on this recall, click here: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm320974.htm?source=govdelivery

fda.gov "Oregon Ice Cream Manufacturing is Recalling Aldens Organic Peanut Butter n Chip Ice Cream and Cascade Glacier Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321693.htm?source=govdelivery

fda.gov "Harry and David, LLC Issues Voluntary Recall of Harry & David Brand Crunchy Almond and Peanut Butter, Creamy Banana Peanut Spread, Creamy Raspberry Peanut Spread, and Related Products"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321416.htm

fda.gov "Justin’s Announces a Limited Recall of Certain Lots of Classic Peanut Butter 16 oz. Jars and Honey Peanut Butter 1.15 oz. and .5 oz. Squeeze Packs"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321511.htm?source=govdelivery

fda.gov "Whole Foods Market Recalls Variety Of Peanut Butter Cookies In Four States" 

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321213.htm

fda.gov "Gretchen's Shoebox Express Recalls Evolution Brand Cinnamon Apple & Almond Butter Sandwiches and Almond Butter"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321095.htm

Stop & Shop Recall of Late July Organic Snacks Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321782.htm

Sunland, Inc. expansion of Almond Butter & Peanut Butter recall to include Cashew Butter, Tahini and Roasted Blanched Peanut Products

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321716.htm

Jer's™ Chocolates Recalls Peanut Butter Products

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321764.htm

Whole Foods Market Recalls Two Bulk Bin Items

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321776.htm

Oregon Ice Cream Manufacturing Recalls Aldens Organic Brand Peanut Butter n Chip Ice Cream and Cascade Glacier Brand Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321693.htm

Fairytale Brownies Voluntarily Recalls Peanut Butter Brownies and Cookies

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321777.htm?source=govdelivery

Xan Confections Recalls Peanut Butter Chocolate Products

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm322285.htm

(See names of specific products, codes, and best-by dates by clicking on the link above.)

Whole Foods Market voluntarily recalls Chicken Spring Rolls and Peanut Sesame Noodles containing peanuts

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm322443.htm

Sunland, Inc. Announces Voluntary Expansion of Ongoing Recall To Include All Products Manufactured in its Peanut Butter Plant After March 1, 2010 Due to Possible Health Risk

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm322747.htm?source=govdelivery

Source(s):

fda.gov "Trader Joe's Voluntarily Recalls Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter..."

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm320579.htm?source=govdelivery

fda.gov "Sunland, Inc. Announces Voluntarily Limited Recall of Almond Butter and Peanut Butter Products..."

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm320647.htm

usatoday.com "Health Roundup: Salmonella peanut butter recall expands"

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/25/health-roundup-salmonella-peanut-butter-recall-expands-beyond-trader-joes-progeria-hope/57840124/1?csp=34news

nbcsandiego.com "Peanut Butter Recall Expanded to More Than a Dozen Brands"

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SD-Peanut-Butter-Recall-Expanded-to-More-Than-a-Dozen-Brands-171174561.html