A total of 42 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney were reported from 20 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: Arizona (1), California (7), Connecticut (3), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (2), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (1), New York (2), Nevada (1), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (1), Texas (5), Virginia (2), West Virginia (2).
28% of ill persons were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported.
61% percent of ill persons were children under the age of 10 years.
Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicated that Trader Joe’s Valencia Peanut Butter, manufactured by Sunland, Inc. of Portales, New Mexico, was a likely source of this outbreak.
On November 14, 2012, FDA issued a document that lists observations made by FDA investigators during inspections of Sunland, Inc.
On November 26, 2012, FDA suspended Sunland, Inc.’s food facility registration, prohibiting Sunland, Inc. from introducing food into interstate or intrastate commerce.