Trader Joe’s, a popular grocery store chain, has become the subject of increasing criticism following a multi-state outbreak of a serious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is investigating a wide-spread outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections that have been associated with the ingestion of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter. Approximately 29 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney across 18 states. As a result, officials have initiated a Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter recall.
Recall Update: On September 25, Sunland Inc. announced that they are expanding the current recall to include 76 varieties of almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, tahini and roasted blanched peanut products. While Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter is the only product found to contain Salmonella Bredeney, officials believe these products my be contaminated due to their close proximity during the packaging process. Only goods produced between May 1 and Sept. 24 are affected. The expanded recall is “a precautionary step,” Sunland said in a statement.
The items were available online and at large supermarket chains under brands such as Sprouts, Harry & David and Safway’s Open Nature. Fresh & Easy issued their own statement this week, acknowledging they were pulling several almond and peanut butters off shelves “out of an abundance of caution.”
If you or a loved one developed salmonella food poisoning after eating the Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter included in this recall, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free confidential case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.
Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Recall Lawsuit
Founded in 1958 under the name Pronto Market, the popular grocery store chain now known as Trader Joe’s provides millions of consumers with a means of procuring hard-to-find, great tasting foods. Their popularity stems from a large selection of innovative food marketed under the Trader Joe’s name. One item in particular, however, has received significant criticism in recent days. Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter has recently been associated with the outbreak of a serious bacterial infection. According to the CDC, in association with the FDA, Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter has been linked to a wide-spread outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections.
A recent FDA Press Release has acknowledged that regulatory officials are currently investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections possibly linked to Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter. The product in question has a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) identifier of 97111.
According to the CDC, public health investigators are using DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria to identify cases of illness that may be associated with this current outbreak. Furthermore, officials have enlisted the help of PulseNet, a national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections. Upon conducting this investigation, regulatory officials have identified approximately 29 individuals have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney. Subsequently, the infections have spanned a total of 18 states.
Among persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from June 11, 2012 to September 2, 2012. Those affected by the outbreak range in age from less than 1 year to 77 years, with a median age of 7 years. Seventy-six percent of ill persons are children under 18 years old. Sixty-four percent of ill persons are male. Among 11 ill persons with available information, 4 (36%) reported being hospitalized. Fortunately, however, no deaths have been reported. As a result, Trader Joe’s has initiated a nationwide recall of Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter products with a SKU of 97111.
Due to the severity of salmonellosis, consumers who have felt ill after eating this product may be eligible to file their own Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter recall lawsuit in an attempt to gain compensation for their suffering.
Salmonellosis
In the event that food contaminated with Salmonella is ingested, an individual may experience severe salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial food-borne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants and the elderly. However, the most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within six to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.
Do I Have a Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Recall Lawsuit?
The trial lawyers at The Senators (Ret.) Firm, LLP have decades of experience navigating through complex legislative and regulatory issues and litigating high stakes cases all over the nation. Our law firm focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter recall lawsuits. We are currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
Again, If you or a loved one developed salmonella food poisoning (salmonellosis) after eating Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter included in this recall, you should contact our lawyers immediately by clicking the link below or calling toll free 1-(949) 557-5800. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.