Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods nut butters recalled for risk of salmonella

Some almond butters sold at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods stores are being recalled due to possible contamination with salmonella. The almond butters are part of a larger nut butter recall also involving peanut butters, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

NSpired Natural Foods Inc. issued the voluntary recall of some of its private-label nut butters made for Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, along with Arrowhead Mills peanut butters and MaraNatha almond butters packaged in glass and plastic jars. Some varieties of Kroger and Safeway nut butters have also been recalled.

The affected products were distributed to stores in the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and the Dominican Republic, and were available for purchase online.

The salmonella risk was discovered during routine testing by the FDA. NSpired has received reports of four illnesses that may be connected to the nut butters, the company said in a release.

The affected Trader Joe’s products include 16-ounce jars of Trader Joe’s Crunchy Raw Almond Butter with Dec. 28, 2014, to June 18, 2015, best-by dates; 16-ounce Trader Joe’s Creamy Raw Almond Butter with Dec. 27, 2014, to July 18, 2015, best-by dates; 16-ounce Whole Foods 365 Creamy Roasted Almond Butter with Dec. 23 or Dec. 24 best-by dates; 16-ounce Whole Foods 365 Crunchy Roasted Almond Butter with Dec. 24 or Dec. 26 best-by dates; and 16-ounce Whole Foods 365 Organic Creamy Roasted Almond Butter with a Dec. 23 best-by date. A full list of the recalled nut butters can be found online.

NSpired Natural Foods is in the process of getting retailers to remove the affected products from store shelves.

Salmonella is a food-borne bacteria that causes about 1.2 million illnesses in the U.S. and 450 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those infected develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.

Customers who purchased the affected nut butters are being asked to dispose of the products and call the company at (800) 937-7008 for a replacement or refund.

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