PB&J lovers, beware: the peanut butter recall announced a few days ago is spreading fast. Check whatever PB you have in your cupboards, because the voluntary recall for Trader Joe's-brand Valencia peanut butter now applies to a handful of 14 different brand names and 76 total products -- all made by the same company, Sunland Inc. -- at various stores around the country. Want to know why this makes us extra nervous? Because there are several brands sold at Target on the updated recalled nut butter list. And last we checked, a LOT of people buy peanut butter at Target because of their great prices.
The good news? It's kind of much ado about nothing considering the fact that only Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter has been linked to salmonella illness. However, these other nut butters were also manufactured and packaged by Sunland Inc. in the same factory on the same line in New Mexico.
And as with any other recall, you really never can be too careful.
According to the CDC, a total of 30 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of salmonella in question, and four of those 30 have been hospitalized. A total of 30 people in 19 different states doesn't sound like an epidemic yet, but still, it's making peanut butter eaters understandably uneasy. Salmonella poisoning can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever, and the infection usually lasts 4 days to a week. Most people recover without treatment.
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So what can we do? Well, the recall applies to peanut and almond butters on the recall list with sell-by dates between May 1, 2013 and September 24, 2013. If you think you may have a product on this list in your pantry, get rid of it ASAP. It's much better to be safe than sorry. The SKU number on the peanut butter voluntarily recalled by Trader Joe's is 97111.
You should also be very careful about what you and your family buy or eat from places other than supermarkets, as you never never really know where convenience stores, delis, restaurants, or scarily enough, your child's school get their peanut butter from. It might not even be a bad idea to skip the Skippy for a while (so to speak) until this whole thing has been sorted out. Who knows? Maybe this is the PERFECT time to try some new options out for lunch. Cold cut sandwiches, anyone?
Are you concerned about the peanut butter recall?
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Comments 15
Ya know, I think the fact that this many different peanut butters being made on the SAME FACTORY LINE just goes to show that buying a certain "brand" really doesn't matter - it's all the same product, just a different package.
Just hearing...thanks for the info
we only buy Jif
I only buy Jif too. Anything else is just plain nasty! That said, recall away. Guess who was still doin tomatoes when they were recalled? Me. Guess who was still doing lettuce when it was recalled? Me. The spniach recall dont affect me, I hate that stuff haha. Guess I got a tough tummy, cause it don't bother me none and I've had items on recall I've ate.
not likely to find this in schools, most have gone peanut free anyway....
we don't have those brands in Canada and kids aren't able to take any peanut products to schools.
i only buy crazy richard's :)