Salmonella clues link to Portales plant

PORTALES, N.M. (KRQE) - A Portales peanut manufacturing plant is being pointed at as the possible culprit of a national salmonella outbreak.

Now popular Albuquerque stores are voluntarily pulling brands of peanut, almond and cashew butters from their shelves.

So far 29 people in 19 states are sick.  Many of them ate peanut butter made at the Sunland plant in Portales .

Sunland makes brands of peanut butters sold at dozens of nationwide stores including Target, Sprouts and Trader Joes.

It's the Trader Joes Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter with Sea Salt suspected in the salmonella outbreak. Sunland is the only plant that makes that type of peanut butter. Twelve of the 29 people who are sick all ate that type of spread about a week before they got sick.

So far on one in New Mexico is sick, but illnesses have been reported coast to coast from California to Maryland.

The Portales plant has been shut down since Saturday, and officials are swabbing every machine, roaster and conveyor belt inside searching for the bacteria.

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"We are doing everything to make certain that we are communicating effectively and that no tainted product ever reaches anyone," said Sunland spokeperson Katalin Corburn.

She pointed out salmonella has not been found so far in any of its products or at the plant. Corburn says it's very rare that salmonella is found in peanut butter.

"Because of the roasting process that happens, it's very highly unlikely," she explained. "Roasting is what's called a kill factor, and roasting will kill salmonella."

The recall is only voluntary and affects more than 75 brands of products. To see a full list click here .

Sunland is one of the nation's largest producers of organic peanut butter.

Salmonella is usually spread through fecal matter and found in water. It causes fever and diarrhea, and it can be fatal.

The possibly contaminated products were made between May and September.

Test results from the swabs inside the plant should be back by the end of the week.

Sunland is closed in the meantime. The plant employs 200 seasonal workers.

Additional product safety recalls can be found in the KRQE.com Business section on the Recalls Page»