According to recent news reports, at least 29 people were left sick with the disease in 18 states across the country.
Initially, the said recall only affected Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter at Trader Joe’s grocery store. But now, the product recall became significantly massive, affecting all peanut butters manufactured by Sunland.
The Consumer Protection Commissioner, William M. Rubenstein, said that the massive product recall affects a far greater number of brands than earlier thought.
Rubenstein added that it is important that consumers, school cafeterias, restaurants, hospitals, and other food preparation sites check their food storage for the products recalled. He likewise reminded people who have any of the recalled products to return the same from the store where they purchased it for a full refund. He warned them against eating those contaminated products.
At present, the Department of Consumer Protection is working to inspect and ensure compliance with the said recall.
The FDA calls for the attention of everyone to check the date of manufacturing of all peanut butters in their shelves and cabinets. Those products that were manufactured by Sunland, Inc. between May 1 and September 24 could be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, an organism that can cause serious illness and sometimes death to humans.
Incidentally, three of the peanut butters recalled are available at Trader Joe’s. Therefore, the said grocery store chain removed those items from its store shelves and had them destroyed, according to a notice posted in its official website.
So far, other states that recently reported cases of salmonella illnesses that have been linked to peanut butter include California, New Jersey, Washington, Arizona, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Apparently, the peanut butter products were distributed nationwide to several huge supermarket chains. Therefore, the number of contamination cases is more likely to increase if both consumers and federal regulators failed to provide significant attention to the product recall, speculated a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.
On the other hand, if such products caused injury or illnesses, victims can possibly mount a product liability claim against the manufacturer since it failed to provide safe and uncontaminated product for its consumers.
