PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) advises consumers not to eat certain Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products manufactured by Sunland, Inc. of Portales, NM. The company has voluntarily recalled a limited number of its products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.
The voluntary recall was initiated by the company after it learned that the products may be linked to an 18-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney. The products are sold under several different brand names, including Archer Farms, Earth Balance, fresh & easy, heinen's, Joseph's, Natural Value, Naturally More, Open Nature, Peanut Power Butter, Crunchy Sugar Butter, Creamy Sugar Butter, Serious Food, Snaclite, Sprouts Farmers Market, Sprout's, Sunland, Dogsbutter and Trader Joe's. The recall applies to products with "Best If Used By" dates between May 1, 2013 and September 24, 2013. For a complete list of affected UPC codes, consumers should check the company's website at http://www.sunlandinc.com/788/html/pdfs/SunlandRecall.pdf
The products were distributed nationally to numerous large supermarket and retail chains, including some in Rhode Island.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection included diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 6 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 2 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient requires hospitalization. Older adults, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.
Rhode Island has one case of illness that may be associated with this outbreak.
For more information about Salmonella, visit HEALTH's website at: www.health.ri.gov/diseases/salmonellosis
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