FDA Shuts Down Peanut Butter Plant

The FDA has shutdown the peanut butter plant that was linked to a recall earlier this year. Health experts say Sunland Inc. in New Mexico was at the root of salmonella outbreak that sickened 41 people in 20 states.

The peanut butter was sold at Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Target and Safeway. The recall pulled the products from the shelves.

New law allows for shutdown

A new law, passed earlier this year, gives the FDA the authority to shutdown a plant if there is “reasonable probability” of harm or death could result from continued operation.

Before, the FDA had to take a company to court to take such action.

Michael Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods, says this action is to protect consumers.

“Consumers can be assured that products will not leave this facility until we determine they have implemented preventive measures that are effective to produce safe products,” Taylor said on CBS News.

A review of Sunland Inc.’s product testing records shows numerous problems in the past. According to the FDA, “11 product lots of nut butter showed the presence of Salmonella between June 2009 and September 2012 and between March 2010 and September 2012, at least a portion of 8 product lots of nut butter that Sunland Inc.’s own testing program identified as containing Salmonella was distributed by the company to consumers.”

Sunland makes a statement

Sunland’s president and chief executive officer, Jimmie Shearer, said this company did not knowingly ship tainted goods.

“At no time in its 24-year history has Sunland, Inc. released for distribution any products that it knew to be potentially contaminated with harmful microorganisms,” Shearer said in a statement posted on the company’s website. “In every instance where test results indicated the presence of a contaminant, the implicated product was destroyed and not released for distribution.”