DeLauro Responds to Expanded Peanut Butter Recall

Statement

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today in response to the multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections and the dramatically expanded recall of products manufactured at a single Sunland, Inc. plant since March 1, 2010. More than thirty individuals in nineteen States, including three people in Connecticut, have become ill from a rare type of Salmonella infection. And more than 200 products -- ranging from peanut butter, to almond butter, cashew butter, chocolate butter, and other types of nut butter products -- marketed under a range of brand names are affected by this recall.

"First, I urge consumers to check their cupboards to see if they have any products that have been recalled and, if so, to discard them. I am deeply concerned as the need for such an expansive recall, affecting products from a more than thirty-month production period, shows that our food safety system has once again let us down. The environmental contamination at this plant and corresponding scope of this recall is deeply troubling and shows we have far more work to do. We must improve oversight of food production facilities and we must implement the Food Safety Modernization Act without delay."

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