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More than 20,000 peanut butter items have been recalled across 40 states by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The U.S. federal agency has classified the recall as Class II
Ventura Foods LLC, which initiated the recall, "found pieces of blue plastic in a filter," per the FDA
Thousands ofpeanut butteritems have been recalled across dozens of states by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The U.S. federal agency has classified the recall asClass II, which means use of or exposure to affected products "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."
The recall was initiated on April 30, and the FDA assigned the Class II classification on Feb. 12. The agency has not listed an end date.
The recall covers various peanut butter products that were produced by Ventura Foods LLC. The company, which initiated the recall, "found pieces of blue plastic in a filter," per the FDA.
More than 20,000 single-serve peanut butter items and peanut butter-and-jelly combo packs are affected. Some were distributed by DYMA Brands, Inc., US Foods, Sysco Corporation, Gordon Food Service and Independent Marketing Alliance, among others, the FDA said.
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According to the FDA, the recalled peanut butter products were shipped to 40 states total: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
A spokesperson for Ventura Foods LLC said in a statement, perNewsweek, "Ten months ago, DYMA Brands initiated a voluntary recall on various single-use peanut butter products due to the potential presence of a foreign material (plastic)."
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"While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation and classification process is thorough and can take time to complete, that timeline did not impact our actions. At the time the recall was initiated ... we acted with urgency to remove all potentially impacted product from the marketplace. This includes urging our customers, their distributors and retailers to immediately review their inventory, segregate and stop the further sale and distribution of any products subject to the recall," the statement continued.
"Protecting consumers remains our top priority, and we will continue to act swiftly and transparently as the FDA review progresses," added the Ventura Foods LLC spokesperson.
The company did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Sunday, Feb. 15.
A full list of items affected by the recall, which the FDA will continue to update, can be foundhere.
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