By Michael Hansberry (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Oct 17, 2012 02:29 PM EDT
Tags Peanut Butter Recall, Peanut Butter Recall 2012, Sunland Food, FDA, Salmonella

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last week that Sunland Inc. added raw and roasted shell and in-shelled peanuts to its already long list of recalled products.

The plant, based in New Mexico, conducted an extensive recall starting Sept. 24 for potential contamination of Salmonella in peanut butter, cashew and almond butter products.

The FDA has released new information on the steps the organization is taking to contain the problem and what consumers need to do to protect themselves.

According to the FDA said 35 people from 19 states have been infected with the outbreak strain.

The agency confirmed traces of Salmonella after it took environmental samples from the plant in Portales.

"Additionally, FDA analysis has confirmed that peanut butter made in the Sunland nut butter facility shows the presence of Salmonella with a DNA fingerprint that is the same as the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney. Also, testing conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture laboratory isolated the outbreak strain from an opened jar of Trader Joe's Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter collected from a case-patient's home," the report read.

What steps should consumers take?

The FDA says consumers should not eat the recalled product and to return any of the recalled products within their current shelf life back to its place of purchase. It said all products with "Best-if-Used-By" dates of March 1, 2011 and products within their current shelf life, Oct. 4, 2012 or later, should be discarded or returned immediately.

The report said children are more likely to get salmonellosis, as well as elderly people and those with weak immune systems.

Consumers can contact Sunland Inc. at 1-866-837-1018 for information on the recall.  This toll-free number is operational 24 hours a day. 

Below is a list of all companies that have sold recalled products:

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