Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Recall Issued Due to Salmonella Risk

About 3,000 jars of chunky Smucker’s natural peanut butter have been recalled due to a risk of salmonella contamination. 

The Smucker’s peanut butter recall was announced by the FDA on November 16, after the company detected the bacteria during routine sampling. Reportedly, there have been no cases of salmonella food poisoning linked to the potentially contaminated peanut butter.

The recall affects 16 oz. jars of Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky, with a UPC of 5150001701 and Best-If-Used-By dates of August 3, 2012 and August 4, 2012. The UPC code is located on the side of the jar’s label below the bar code.

An estimated 3,000 jars were distributed to stores, and another 16,000 were stopped before distribution. The affected jars could have been purchased between November 8 and November 17.

This is the second peanut butter recall this year, following a Skippy peanut butter recall in March.

A massive peanut recall in 2008-2009 by Peanut Corporation of America was linked to more than 700 salmonella food poisoning illnesses and nine deaths. In 2007, millions of jars of Great Value and Peter Pan peanut butter were recalled by Con Agra Foods after they were linked to over 625 cases of salmonella in 47 states, including several deaths.

Salmonella, also known as salmonellosis, is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States, producing symptoms like high fever, persistent diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, severe abdominal cramps and pain. The first symptoms usually begin to surface between 12 hours and 3 days after consuming the salmonella infected food.

For most healthy adults, salmonella symptoms pass within a few days to a week. However, in some cases severe illness can persist for longer and lead to more serious health problems. Those who are most susceptible to serious injury include the elderly, infants and those with chronic conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes or weak immune systems.

The FDA recommends that consumers who have the affected jars of peanut butter retain proof of purchase and discard them immediately. They can contact Smucker’s for a replacement coupon by calling (888) 550-9555.