By Miriam Falco, CNN
(CNN) – If you were checking the peanut butter in your pantry after a large recall was announced a couple of weeks ago, you may want to take another peek. More products are being recalled.
On September 24, Sunland, Inc. recalled all products manufactured at their Portales, New Mexico, processing plant with a “best if used by” date between May 1, 2012, and September 24, 2012. Now all products made at this peanut butter and nut manufacturing facility going back as far as March 2010 and September 24, when the plant was shut, are being recalled.
The CDC is reporting that the number of people sickened by these products has risen to 35, up from 30 last week.
According to a FDA statement, the expanded recall “covers all previously identified Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, and Tahini products as well as Roasted Blanched Peanut Products. Several varieties of flavored butters and spreads, including Thai Ginger Butter, Chocolate Butter and Banana Butter, are also being included in this expanded recall.”
Health officials in Washington state have traced the same strain of salmonella that sickened 35 people nationwide to an open jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter collected from the home of one of the people infected. This firmly establishes a link between a specific Sunland product and this salmonella outbreak, something the company spokeswoman Katalin Coburn said hadn’t been established by last week.
FDA inspectors have also found salmonella on surfaces at the Sunland processing plant, although further testing is required to confirm if it’s the same strain of Salmonella, called Bredeney, that has infected nearly three dozen people in 19 states and has led to eight hospitalizations so far.
Coburn tells CNN that Sunland is complying with all FDA recommendations and that the plant is “under a complete clean-up procedure.”
“We hope to be up and running as soon as we get the all-clear,” she added.
In addition to 101 products already recalled since September 24, 49 more products whose “best if used by” dates have not yet expired and 90 types of Sunland products which may have gone past their “best if used by” may still be in people’s homes.
Consumers are being urged to dispose of any remaining jars of Sunland, Inc., products in the home or return them to the place of purchase.
A full list of all voluntarily recalled products can be found online. Consumers can also contact Sunland by calling 1-866-837-1018 for more information on the recall.
