Sunland officials react to FDA report

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Vice President for Sunland Inc., the company responsible for the nationwide salmonella outbreak, responded to the FDA's damaging report released Thursday saying it doesn't tell the whole story.

The report says that FDA inspectors found salmonella in 28 different samples when they tested the site on Sept. 17. It also said that Sunland's internal testing had revealed the presence of salmonella in June and August 2009, March 2010, February, August and September o2011 and June, July and September 2012.

It also showed Sunland continued to send out product despite the positive tests.

Coburn says the plant reacted to all of their internal tests according to industry standards. They say they trace the area where the product came from and anything that came from that area during that time is immediately quarantined and destroyed.

She says that process was followed in every positive salmonella test.

"There has never been a product shipped out from Sunland that had salmonella in it that we were aware of." says Coburn.

Coburn says Sunland officials were surprised by the FDA's release of the report. She says Sunland, unlike the FDA, is prohibited from talking about specifics of the report until the case is closed.

Sunland officials say they take issue with accusations that they knowingly put the public in danger.

"I mean, good God, one does not end up in business this long if you are irresponsible." says Coburn

Officials say the hope to reopen the peanut processing part of the plant in the near future. The peanut-butter processing area will likely not reopen until the end of the year.