Peanut butter recalled after salmonella outbreak | Health

SPRINGFIELD, IL (KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning Illinois residents to not eat Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter or peanut butter and other products that has nuts and seeds from Sunland, Inc.

Both companies have issued voluntary recalls after preliminary results from a multi-state outbreak investigation of salmonella show these products may be the source of the outbreak.

IDPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the investigation of the outbreak which has affected 30 people in 19 states, including one case in central Illinois.

Those who are reporting to be sick range in age from 1 to 77 years and first became ill from June 11 to September 11 of this year. About 63 percent of people who have become sick are under the age of 10. Four people have been hospitalized.

There have been no deaths reported so far.

"It is important to check your shelves at home and make sure to get rid of any of the recalled peanut butter or other products," said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. "If you have eaten one of these products and are feeling ill, contact your doctor or local health care provider."

Symptoms of salmonella bacteria include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after being infected. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment.

Older adults or the elderly, infants and people with impaired immune systems are at greater risk of severe illness from salmonella infection.

The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends people with any of the recalled products do not eat them and throw away any remaining jars or return them to where they bought them from.

The recalled Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter was distributed to Trader Joe's stores nationwide and has been pulled from shelves. The product comes in a 16-ounce, plastic jar. All code dates are included in this recall--up to and including July 26, 2013.

Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe's Customer Relations at 626-599-3817, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

Sunland Inc. recalled various varieties of nut and peanut butter products. A list of recalled products, including UPS codes and best-if-used-by dates can be found at http://www.sunlandinc.com/788/html/pdfs/SunlandRecall.pdf or consumers can contact the company at 1-866-837-1018.

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