Trader Joe's Peanut Butter may be Contaminated with Salmonella

Health officials in several states are warning consumers of possibly contaminated peanut butter sold at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's brand Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with sea salt with use by dates of 5/23/2013 and 6/28/2013 may be related to a multi-state outbreak of salmonella bredeney infection, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health release.

There have been 29 cases of illness, with one illness reported in Rhode Island.

That state's health department is working with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Testing of peanut butter samples is underway at several Rhode Island labs. Although no positive samples have been found, Trader Joe's is voluntarily removing the product from store shelves. So far, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has not issued any warnings about a recall of this peanut butter product from Trader Joe's stores in Nashua and Portsmouth.

In Rhode Island, the health department advises anyone who recently consumed Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter Made with Sea Salt and then became ill with diarrhea or vomiting to consult their health care provider.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection included diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 6 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 2 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient requires hospitalization. Older adults, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.