The FDA has warned consumers not to eat a brand of peanut butter called Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter (with sea salt).  The announcement was released by the FDA on September 22, 2012, and the brand is found at Trader Joe’s stores. 

The government is recalling the brand of peanut butter because of a possible outbreak of salmonella.  The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that young children under the age of 5, elderly adults, and those with weak immune systems need to avoid the peanut butter.  Adults should not consume peanut butter either. 

Consumers need to discard any unused or used jars of peanut butter, and Trader Joe’s has announced that costumers can return the product for a full refund. 

The CDC currently reports that 29 people have been infected with Salmonella Bredeney across 18 different states because of the peanut butter.  After a quick investigation, Trader Joe’s agreed to pull the product form their selves, but consumers still warned about purchases over the internet. 

The common symptoms of salmonella usually appear about 12 to 72 hours after the infection and include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.  Healthy adults will usually remain sick for about 4 to 7 days and then fully recover.

If you believe you have salmonella, you need to contact your local healthcare provider right away.  If left untreated, salmonella can spread to the intestines, blood stream, and other parts of the body—eventually leading to death.  The FDA estimates that about 400 persons die every year because of salmonellosis. 

If you have questions about the Trader Joe’s product or questions about food safety, you can contact the FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD.  You can also visit the website at fda.gov.  

Source: Food and Drug Administration