Peanut butter recall widening with salmonella found in WA
Oct 5, 2012, 11:37 AM | Updated: 1:56 pm
The grocery store chain Trader Joe's is recalling peanut butter that has been linked to salmonella illnesses. (AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
More people are getting sick and more peanut butter is being recalled as the state finds salmonella in a jar sold in Washington.
Two people in our state tested positive for the illness last week. In all, 35 people have come down with the same strain of salmonella in 19 states. Most of them have been children.
Testing just completed on a jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter shows it was tainted with the same strain of the bacteria that has been making people sick.
“Really, what’s important about the strain is trying to trace it back to a source. Is there a common source, and if so can you prevent people from exposing themselves through that source?” says Donn Moyer with Washington State Department of Health.
Further testing by the Food and Drug Administration found salmonella at the Sunland processing plant in New Mexico, the producers of the peanut butter. One hundred-fifty Sundland products are now being recalled.
The recall includes nut butters and nut products sold at Whole Foods Market, Target, Safeway, Costco, Fresh & Easy, Harry and David, Sprouts, Heinen’s, Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, Giant Food of Landover, Md., and several other stores since 2010.
More information from the Food and Drug Administration.
