Salmonella Discovered in Private-Label Plant

PORTALES, N.M. — Samples taken from various surfaces in the Sunland Inc. nut butter facility, where dozens of store-brand nut butters were produced and subsequently recalled, show the presence of salmonella, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The outbreak strain that has sickened 35 people in 19 states has also been found in a jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter collected from a patient’s home. 

The recall began with the Sunland-produced Trader Joe's brand last month and grew to include scores of almond and peanut butters sold under Target’s Archer Farms, Heinen’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, Open Nature, Fresh & Easy and other brands.

Read more: Sunland Expands Peanut Butter Recall

Sunland added 139 products including chocolate butter, banana butter and Thai ginger butter to the recall Thursday, bringing the total to 240 SKUs. The expanded recall includes 49 products for which the “best if used by” dates haven’t yet passed, and 90 items that consumers may still have in their homes that are older than the used by dates.