National grocery chain Trader Joe’s is voluntarily recalling peanut butter that has been linked to 29 cases of salmonella in 18 states.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have removed all Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter from sale, due to pending health-related inquiries,” Trader Joe’s said in a statement.
An investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) determined that the peanut butter was the likely source of the outbreak. Officials from the FDA and CDC briefed Trader Joe’s on Thursday, prompting the grocery chain to voluntarily recall the peanut butter, the FDA said in a statement issued Saturday.
More than three quarters of those who became ill were children under the age of 18. No deaths have been reported.
The agencies are investigating whether any other items sold at the store could be contaminated, as well.
The list of states that reported the illnesses was not released, but the state health departments in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and North Carolina reported cases, according to the A.P.
Salmonella causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain 12-72 hours after being infected. Most at risk to develop severe infections are young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
Anyone with the recalled peanut butter is encouraged to either return it to Trader Joe’s for a full refund or dispose of it.
You can contact one of our Gacovino Lake attorneys at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).
