N.M. girl's illness tied to recalled peanut butter

SANTA FE (KRQE) - A 5-year-old girl from the Portales area has been diagnosed with salmonella related to contaminated peanut products recalled by a New Mexico processor.

The Roosevelt County girl ate multiple products containing the peanut butter produced by Sunland Inc. of Portales, the New Mexico Department of Health reported Friday.

The girl was was quite ill for eight days but did not require hospitalization.

"There is always that possibility that other people might have had illness," Dr. Paul Ettestad of the NMDOH told KRQE News 13. "They didn't go into their medical provider or their medical provider didn't test for it.

"When we do surveillance looking for illness and disease, we know there probably are a number of other cases out there that we haven't been able to confirm."

Online:  Food and Drug Administration list of recalled products.

Meanwhile concern about the peanut products has spread to schools.

The federal government has alerted school lunch programs in 16 states to check to see if they have "Smucker's Uncrustables Sandwiches" that might contain peanut butter from Sunland Inc. In portales.

Those sandwiches are part of the ongoing recalled and should not be served.

With the first salmonella case reported in New Mexico, 36 people have now been sickened in 20 states.

The Sunland production line remains shut down until the FDA gives the OK for it to reopen.

Recall and salmonella information from NMDOH:

CDC’s advice to consumers who have recalled peanut products in their home:

• Dispose of the product immediately or return it to the place of purchase.
   
• Even if some of the peanut butter or other products containing nuts and seeds have been eaten without anyone becoming ill, the rest of the jar should be disposed of or returned.
   
• If consumers choose to discard recalled peanut butter or other products containing nuts and seeds, the product should be disposed of in a closed plastic bag and placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating it.

Salmonella is a bacterium that can commonly contaminate foods. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 72 hours after ingestion and usually include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.

In most people, illness will resolve in a few days and does not require antibiotic treatment.

Children under the age of five, older adults and people with weak immune systems are most at risk for serious complications. If you experience symptoms of stomach illness, contact your health care provider and ask him or her to test you for Salmonella bacteria.

For more information, you can visit the CDC website regarding this outbreak.