The FDA announced today that, on October 12, Sunland Inc. expanded its ongoing recall to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts sold in quantities from 2 ounces to 50 pounds which are within their current shelf life or have no stated expiration date.

The CDC has announced that a total of 35 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney have been reported from 19 states.  Eight ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.  63% percent of ill persons are children under the age of 10 years.

Since late September, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health officials have been investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections linked to a peanut butter made by Sunland Inc.  As part of the continuing investigation, the FDA has been inspecting the Sunland Inc. production facilities, which include a building in which peanuts are processed and a separate building in which nut butters are made.

FDA testing has found the presence of Salmonella in raw peanuts from the peanut processing facility.  Environmental samples taken from this building also show the presence of Salmonella. Environmental samples are samples taken from various surfaces in the production or manufacturing facility that would likely harbor bacteria.

Additionally, FDA analysis has confirmed that environmental samples showing the presence of Salmonella in Sunland’s nut butter facility have a DNA fingerprint that is the same as the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney.

Sunland Inc. reports that it has ceased the production and distribution of all products from both its nut butter facility and its peanut processing facility.

A list of all products being recalled by Sunland Inc. can be found in the company’s recall announcement, and press release.

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