What Know About The New Peanut Butter Snacks Added To Jif's Latest Recall

On the heels of a recent Skittles recall, the J.M. Smucker Co. issued a voluntary recall on May 20 of nearly 50 variations and sizes of Jif peanut butter due to a possible salmonella contamination. But the recalls didn’t end there. On May 23, food corporation Cargill also issued a voluntary recall of seven additional products containing Jif, including Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers. So if you’re a Jif household, you’ll definitely want to check your products before your next PB&J or snack sesh. Here’s the rundown on the Jif peanut butter and Cargill recalls, including how to get a refund, affected products, and more.

The J.M. Smucker Co.’s recall statement, which was issued by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on May 20, cited a potential salmonella contamination in its Jif peanut butter products as the reason for the recall. The recalled products were manufactured in Lexington, Kentucky, according to an email from a J.M. Smucker Co. spokesperson to Elite Daily. Per the recall statement, the recalled products were distributed in the United States and Canada at retail stores and various other outlets. According to the statement, side effects of a salmonella infection may include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. Young children or elderly people may also develop serious and sometimes fatal infections as well, per the recall.

According to the FDA’s investigation of the May 2022 outbreak, the last illness in connection with the recalled product was on May 1, and there were 14 illnesses accounted for in 12 states.

Following suit, Cargill issued its own recall statement through the FDA on May 23 on select products containing Jif peanut butter, citing the salmonella outbreak as the reason. According to the statement, the recall affects 795 peanut butter-containing products, all sold in 8-ounce boxes. The products were available for purchase at the Wilbur Chocolate store in Lititz, Pennsylvania, as well as through the website from Feb. 9, 2022 to March 28, 2022. According to the statement, no illnesses or health-related complaints in connection to the recall had been reported as of May 23.

There were 49 products listed in the May 20 Jif recall, including the 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 28-ounce variations of Jif Creamy Peanut Butter. The May 23 recall went on to include seven peanut butter-based Cargill products. If you think your peanut butter jar or your go-to midday snacks have been affected by the contamination, here’s what you need to know about securing your refund and disposing the products for good.

Affected Products:

Of the 49 Jif products named in the recall, 28 were of the Creamy variety, 11 feature a Crunchy texture, and the affected products range from 1.5-ounce-sized servings to 4 pound-sized jars. Plus, peanut butter wasn’t the only thing listed in the recall — Jif’s 40-ounce Natural Honey was affected by the potential contamination as well.

To see the full list of recalled Jif products, click here.

As for the Cargill recall, seven products sold between February and March of 2022 may have been affected as well. Those products are:

• Dark Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Eggs - 8-ounce box
• Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Eggs - 8-ounce box
• Dark Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Meltaways - 8-ounce box
• Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Meltaways - 8-ounce box
• Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers - 8-piece 8-ounce box
• Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fudge - 8-ounce box
• Peanut Butter Fudge - 8-ounce box

How To Tell If Your Product Is Recalled:

If you want to be extra sure that your Jif peanut butter is in the clear, you’ll need to carefully scan the numbers on the Lot code. The Lot codes on the recalled products range from 1274425 – 2140425, and can be found alongside the Best If Used By date. Per recall guidance, check the first four digits, and if they’re between 1274 and 2140, then check the next three numbers. If the following three numbers are 425, your product was recalled, and you should throw it away. You can find the full UPC code list here as well. If your peanut butter is in the recall, you should dispose of it immediately.

Most of the Cargill products have expirations dates that have passed, but if you have them, you can see the full list of lot numbers for recalled products here. Dark Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Meltaways, Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Meltaways, and Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers all have multiple lot numbers, so be sure to look closely.

Refund Process:

You can coordinate your Jif reimbursement by contacting the company through the Contact Us section of the Jif website, per the J.M. Smucker Co. spokesperson. If you have questions about the recall, or would like to report any adverse reactions to the product, you can call 800-828-9980 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m ET.

Customers who purchased the recalled Cargill products are encouraged to either dispose of or return the unconsumed items to the Wilbur Chocolate Retail Store. To get your refund, you can contact Amy Weik via email at Aweik@cargill.com or, call 717-627-7946 between 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday-Friday.

Does It Affect Non-Recalled Products?

Even if the Jif in your pantry doesn’t match the description of the recalled products, you’re probably wondering if your jar is safe to enjoy. Per the spokesperson, only the listed items in the recall were affected, and there is no impact to Smucker’s Uncrustables, Santa Cruz Organic, or any other J.M. Smucker Co. Brand.

No other Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate or Wilbur products were affected by the May 23 recall, per the statement.

TL;DR: check your peanut butter jars and snacks ASAP. If you experience adverse reactions to the recalled products, make sure to contact the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program, either online or at 1-800-332-1088.