The salmonella outbreak linked to a New Mexico peanut supplier has expanded again with the voluntary recall of thousands of bags of whole peanuts by Hines Nut Co. The Dallas-based company recalled bags of salted jumbo Virginia in-shell peanuts on Monday for possible contamination with salmonella. The peanuts were processed by Sunland Inc. of Portales, N.M.
There are no reported illnesses from the Hines products.
Nearly 2 million pounds of peanuts are involved in the Hines recall, with the bags sold nationally in supermarkets such as Wal-mart and Dollar General stores. The salted jumbo peanuts were distributed from April 12 to Oct. 12, according to officials at the Food and Drug Administration.
The packing information begins with the words ‘BEST BUY’. The recall lot numbers are as follows, located on the fourth line of the ‘BEST BUY’ statement:
S03718, S03699, S03724, S03753, S03765, S03784, S03798, S03806, S03810, S03824, S03826, S03840, S03863, S03886, S03907, S03928, S03933, S03938, S03950, S03958, S03967, S03972, S03978, S03989, S03991, S04012, S04025, S04042, S04054, S04066, S04097, S04109, S04123, S04134, S04141, S04141, S04165, S04200, S04201, S04211, S04229, S04236, and S04247.
Consumers who have purchased the peanuts are urged not to eat them, but to return them to the place of purchase.
The Hines recall is the latest involving Sunland, which started as a peanut butter recall of jars sold to Trader Joe’s and now includes more than 240 peanut products.
At least 35 people in 19 states have been sickened in the salmonella outbreak traced to the Sunland peanut products. Nearly two thirds of those affected were children younger than 10, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illnesses have been tied to those who ate Trader Joe's Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt.
Sunland has ceased production and distribution from both its nut butter and peanut processing plants, FDA officials reported.
A full list of recalled products can be found here.
Salmonella can cause serious, possibly fatal infections, in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
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