WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration said environmental samples taken at Sunland Foods’ Portales, N.M., production facility show the presence of Salmonella. Identification of the specific strain is pending, according to the F.D.A.
In addition, 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. Sunland Inc. is the manufacturer of the product line.
On Oct. 4, Sunland expanded its ongoing recall to include all products made in the Sunland nut butter production facility between March 1, 2010 and Sept. 24, 2012. The company added 139 products to the recall, bringing the total number of products being recalled by Sunland Inc. to 240.
The expanded recall covers all previously identified peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, and Tahini products as well as roasted, blanched peanut products. New product categories added to the list are several varieties of flavored butters and spreads, including Thai ginger butter, chocolate butter and banana butter.
The F.D.A. said the expanded recall adds 49 products that are currently within the manufacturer’s recommended shelf-life. The expanded recall also covers 90 products consumers may still have in their homes that are older than the “use by” date.