Peanut butter fans may want to check their supply after JIF peanut butter has been linked to a salmonella outbreak by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC identified possible Salmonella contamination in several varieties of JIF peanut butter, including creamy, crunchy, natural, and reduced fat. The CDC is recalling JIF products as a result.
Customers can check their jars to see if they are included in the recall by looking at the lot code numbers listed on the back of the jar under the expiration date. The recall includes product numbers 1274425 through 2140425, with “425” at the end of the first seven numbers.
The CDC advises consumers to immediately throw the peanut butter away if its product numbers match the recall. Anything that touched the peanut butter container should be washed with hot, soapy water, including other containers and surfaces.
Over the weekend, the CDC reported 14 illnesses and two hospitalizations linked to the popular peanut butter brand due to salmonella contamination. Those illnesses span from Feb. 17 through May 1.
Most people infected with salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
Symptoms usually start within six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria, and most people recover without treatment after four to seven days. Those at greatest risk include children younger than 5 years old and adults 65 and older, as well as people with compromised immune systems.
Customers who consumed peanut butter listed in the recall should call a healthcare provider if they experience:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
- Bloody diarrhea or diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving
- So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as:
- Lack of urination
- Dry mouth and throat
- Feeling dizzy when standing up
The true number of sick people in an outbreak is hard to track due to how salmonella is reported, the CDC stated in its investigation. Thus far, one reported illness from the contamination was in Ohio, but the health organization says the number could be much higher because exposed people usually recover from home and they are not tested for the bacteria. It usually takes two to four weeks to determine if a sick person was part of an outbreak.