Peanut Butter Plant Closes As Health Officials Find More Salmonella

Sunland Inc. of Portales, New Mexico has been forced to shut down production at its various peanut production facilities after federal health officials found salmonella in bulk raw and roasted peanuts produced by the firm. Salmonella associated with peanut butter products has sickened more than three dozen people in the United States. Officials fear that the outbreak could lead to more sickness as major retailers across the nation use the company’s nut butter.

Sunland is currently recalling raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts sold in quantities ranging from 2 ounces to 50 pounds. The products being recalled include those with a current shelf life and products with no expiration date. The recall was first announced on Saturday by the Food and Drug Administration.

Problems for the manufacturer began on Oct. 5 when 35 people across 19 states became sick. Two thirds of those affected were children 10-years-old and younger. The sickness at that time was tied directly to  Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt.

Food and Drug Officials detected salmonella in the environment of the plants that make Trader Joe products and other products for manufacturers across the country. On Saturday salmonella Bredeney was discovered in the nut butter plant.

Customers are being urged to bring their products back to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. Customers can also simply choose to discard of the products should they not desire a refund.