Know Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning from Peanut Butter

Shannon Weidemann

Contributor

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The recent recall of peanut butter made by ConAgra may have you wondering if you should throw out all peanut butter and what to look for. Specific lots of peanut butter made at the plant may have been contaminated with Salmonella.

It does mean that consumers should check the brand and product code of peanut butter they have on hand and, if it matches the recall, discard the potentially contaminated product.

The potential contaminant, Salmonella Tennessee, can cause foodborne illness, Blakeslee said. Symptoms, which include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, typically appear within 12 to 72 hours after ingestion. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. Those with severe diarrhea, however, may need to be hospitalized.

Salmonella can be particularly dangerous for children, whose immune systems are not yet fully developed, older adults whose immune systems are weakened by age and others who may be suffering from chronic illness or undergoing medical treatment such as chemotherapy that has weakened their immune system.

If you suspect you have salmonella poisoning contact your doctor and preserve the jar of peanut butter for testing.