Trader Joe’s Recall 2014: Almond Butter May Have Salmonella, Not Peanut Butter

The latest 2014 Trader Joe’s recall is only for specific types of Almond butter and it’s claimed that “no other Trader Joe’s products are included in this recall.”

In a related report by The Inquisitr, earlier in 2014, another Trader Joe’s recall involved fruit contaminated with listeria and the recall also affected Walmart and CostCo.

Multiple nut butter products, including peanut butter and almond butter, have been recalled by nSpired Natural Foods, Inc. on the basis of potential salmonella poisoning cases. The recall affects Arrowhead Mills, MaraNatha, Kroger, Safeway, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods brands of almond and peanut butter. The company insists that the peanut butter recall was voluntary and although four illnesses “may be associated” with the company’s products this link has not been confirmed.

The Trader Joe’s recall has also been confirmed but the company has issued a customer update that clarifies the previous reports to say that only almond butter is part of their recall:

“In accordance with our stringent health and safety standards, and as an extreme precaution, all of the potentially affected product has been removed from sale and destroyed. Customers who have purchased any of these items with the specified code dates are urged to not eat them and to dispose of them or return them to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund. No other Trader Joe’s products are included in this recall. Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 [Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Pacific Time]. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

Specifically, the products involved in the Trader Joe’s recall is the “Raw Crunch Unsalted Almond Butter” with a SKU of 91989 and a use by date of December 28, 2014 through June 18, 2015. The second product is their “Raw Creamy Unsalted Almond Butter” with a SKU of 56995 and a use by date of December 27, 2014 through July 18, 2015. Please note that the above image is for representation purposes only and is not one of the recalled products.

The seriousness of the Trader Joe’s recall cannot be underestimated. According to a 2012 CDC report on food poisoning, salmonella poisoning was the top cause of the 48 million cases of foodborne illness reported each year. The CDC reports that healthy people who ingest Salmonella contaminated food may experience diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, which typically begin within 12 to 72 hours. These symptoms may be accompanied by vomiting, chills, headache and muscle pains and last about four to seven days. Antibiotics can treatment salmonella poisoning, but left unchecked, the infection may spread to the bloodstream and beyond and may even lead to death. Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune symptoms should practice extreme caution.