Officials warn of Trader Joe’s peanut butter hazard

Maryland health officials are advising consumers not to eat or buy a specific variety of Trader Joe’s peanut butter, because of what they said was “a potential link” to a salmonella outbreak.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Friday it was “currently advising” against consumption of Trader Joe’s brand Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with sea salt. Health officials said other Trader Joe’s brand peanut products may be affected and out of caution urged consumers to consider setting them aside during the investigation into a multistate “outbreak of salmonella infection.”

The health agency said Maryland had one case apparently associated with the outbreak, involving someone under 18 who recovered without hospitalization.

A statement from the department did not describe any connection between the infection and the peanut butter that is the subject of the advisory.