Jif Peanut Butter Recalled After Salmonella Outbreak

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Facts

  • On Friday, the FDA announced a salmonella outbreak linked to a J.M. Smucker Co. factory in Lexington, Kentucky. 48 of the 49 recalled products were variously sized and packaged products of Jif Peanut Butter, the other being 40-ounce jars of Jif-branded honey.1
  • The outbreak has spread throughout 12 states and left 14 sick, two of whom have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. The states include Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.2
  • The company voluntarily recalled jars with lot codes 1274425 through 2140425.3
  • The salmonella strain found in this outbreak matches that of a sample the FDA took from the J.M. Smucker factory back in 2010.1
  • The FDA recommends that anyone with these products should throw them away immediately and sanitize and surfaces it may have come in contact with.3
  • The company has promised to reimburse anyone who bought peanut butter covered by the recall.1

Sources: 1MSN, 2New York Post and 3NPR Online News.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Food Safety News. The system of Big Agriculture is reactive instead of preventive. Recalls occur when it's too late and problems are posed by insufficient regulation and weak sanctions.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Food Safety. Recalls are first-and-foremost a public health issue, but it is also important to understand the economic costs they have on companies. It's important that we seek solutions that improve both public health and economic conditions pertaining to food safety.