Wisconsin Affected By Multistate Jif Peanut Butter Recall

WISCONSIN — Dozens of types of Jif peanut butter have been recalled following a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Senftenberg infections, health officials announced on Saturday.

People in 12 states fell ill after eating contaminated peanut butter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a statement. The J.M. Smucker Company voluntarily recalled Jif peanut butter products with lot codes between 1274425 to 2140425. There were no deaths linked to the recall.

Affected states include Washington, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New York and Massachusetts, health officials said. A total of 14 people were sick with salmonella, which can be dangerous to children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Recalled products range from creamy, crunchy and natural varieties of Jif peanut butter, along with many others, health officials said. People shouldn't eat, serve or sell peanut butter with the lot code numbers 1274425 to 2140425 if the first letters end with 425.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The FDA recommends that if you have used the recalled Jif brand peanut butter that have lot code numbers 1274425 through 2140425 and the first seven digits end with 425, you should wash and sanitize surfaces and utensils that could have touched the peanut butter. If you or someone in your household ate this peanut butter and have symptoms of salmonella, contact your healthcare provider.

If consumers have products matching the recalled jars, they should dispose of it immediately, the company said.

Consumers who have questions or would like to report illness should visit www.jif.com/contact-us or call 800-828-9980 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Deb Belt, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.