Peanut Butter Recall at Fresh & Easy, Trader Joe's
Peanut butter sold down the street at Fresh & Easy, Trader Joe’s, and other large supermarkets has been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration Tuesday due to a salmonella outbreak.
Sunland Inc., a peanut butter company located in New Mexico, recalled 76 types of peanut butter and almond butter after their Valencia Peanut Butter sold to Trader Joe’s was linked to the infection.
The Food and Drug Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention connected 29 cases of salmonella in 18 states to Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter. Other affected products include Fresh & Easy Creamy Peanut Butter and Creamy Almond Butter.
USC student and local Fresh & Easy shopper, Esha Roy, said she was unaware of the salmonella outbreak but is now going to be more cautious.
“I hope that they would change the (peanut butter) brands,” Roy said.
As for Roy continuing to shop at Fresh & Easy?
“I would buy other products but will definitely stay away from the peanut butter.”
Sunland spokeswoman Katelin Coburn said the company recalled other peanut and almond butters because they were made with the same equipment as the Trader Joe's product. There have not been any other products linked to salmonella outbreaks.
The 29 people who were infected with salmonella became ill between June 11 and September 2 according to the CDC and the recall is limited to products manufactured between May 1 and September 24. There are reported illnesses in approximately 18 states, including California, Washington, Arizona, New York and Texas.
“There is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers, particularly the many families who enjoy our peanut butter every day,” said Jimmie Shearer, the CEO of Sunland, Inc.
Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after the infection.
