Jif Peanut Butter Products Recalled Following Salmonella Outbreak—Here’s What to Check For

The parent company for Jif peanut butter, the J.M. Smucker Co., has issued a voluntary recall of multiple products following a salmonella outbreak. The contaminated peanut butter has been distributed nationwide in retail stores and other outlets, according to a statement from the company posted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Among the list of recalled products were the creamy, crunchy, reduced fat, and natural varieties, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The outbreak has caused 14 illnesses and two hospitalizations and has so far affected the following states, per the CDC: Washington, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, New York, and Massachusetts. The outbreak has been traced to a manufacturing facility in Lexington, Kentucky, and hasn’t affected other facilities the company uses to produce peanut butter, according to a statement provided to TODAY.

The CDC recommends checking any Jif products on your shelves to see if they’ve been recalled. A full list of recalled products can be found in the FDA statement, including sizes and types. To see if your product was recalled, you’ll need to check the lot code number on the packaging. Lot code numbers 1274425 through 2140425 (with “425” at the end of the first seven numbers) were recalled, per the CDC.

The shelf life for peanut butter products can be long, so the CDC encourages you to check your products even if you didn’t buy them recently. If you do find a recalled product in your home, you should throw it out immediately, per the CDC. You should also use hot, soapy water to clean surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with the peanut butter. If you consumed some of the peanut butter and you start experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should contact your health care provider, per the CDC: diarrhea and fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, diarrhea for more than three days, bloody diarrhea, vomiting to the point that you can’t keep liquids down, or dehydration (which might manifest as decreased urine output, dry mouth and throat, or feeling dizzy when you stand up).

Salmonella refers to a group of bacteria found in raw poultry, beef, eggs, and unwashed vegetables and fruit, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, and loss of appetite, and symptoms can last four to seven days. Salmonella can be more severe for certain people, including children younger than five, adults 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems, per the CDC. Some people recover without treatment, but health care providers sometimes prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing salmonella, according to the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, since salmonella can cause dehydration, fluids may have to be administered through an I.V. in severe cases.

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