Consumer Alert: Trader Joe's Recalls Peanut Butter Linked to Salmonella Cases

Trader Joe's voluantarily recalled one of its store brand peanut butter products as an investigation into a salmonella outbreak continues.

Preliminary investigation by the Centers for Disease Control indicates that Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt is a likely source for 29 Salmonella Bredeney infections in 18 states, the CDC said in a press release Saturday, Sept. 22.

On Saturday, Trader Joe's released this statement:

Out of the utmost caution and care for our customers, Trader Joe’s is voluntarily recalling its Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter because of potential contamination with Salmonella. At this time, no confirmed illnesses directly linked to this product have been reported to Trader Joe’s.

While we have no confirmed information that suggests this peanut butter is unsafe to eat, there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and crew, and the quality of our products.

In advance of this recall, Trader Joe’s removed the product from all store shelves.

The recalled Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter was distributed to Trader Joe’s stores nationwide. The product comes in a 16 ounce, plastic jar with an expiration date of stamped below the lid. All code dates are included in this recall.

Production and distribution of the item has been suspended while the FDA and the Valencia Peanut Butter supplier continue their investigations.

Customers who have purchased this item are urged to not eat the product, and to dispose of it or return it to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund. Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817.

Salmonella is an organism that 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 the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

So far, 29 people, largely children under the age of 18, have contracted the illness between June 11 and Sept. 2.

The peanut butter is sold in Trader Joe's stores nationwide and on the Internet. All bar code numbers are being recalled.