Trader Joe's initiated a recall of its Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter on Monday after health officials believe the product is linked to salmonella infections that have sickened 29 people in 18 states.
According to the store's website, if your jar has a SKU number ending in 97111, you should not eat it and instead return it to the store for a full refund.
U.S. health officials on Saturday warned consumers not to eat Trader Joe's Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter after the product was linked to 29 infections in 18 states linked to the rare salmonella Bredeney.
The other two Trader Joe's brands that have been recalled include Trader Joe's Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds, Crunchy and Salted and Trader Joe's Almond Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds, Crunchy and Salted.
"We have no confirmed information that suggests this [product] is unsafe to eat, but there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and crew, and the quality of our products. As such, if you purchased this product, please do not eat it. We encourage you to return the product to any Trader Joe's for a full refund or dispose of it," the company said in a statement.
The cautionary information comes on the heels of customers experiencing salmonella infections, as reported by MSNBC. I happen to be one of the customers who bought thepeanut butter in question, although luckily no one in my family has experienced any symptoms.
The list of states that reported the illnesses was not released, but the state health departments in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and North Carolina reported cases.
The product comes in a 16-ounce plastic jar with an expiration date stamped below the lid. All code dates are included in the recall. Production and distribution of the peanut butter has been suspended while the FDA and the peanut butter supplier continue their investigations.
