J.M. Smucker Co. is recalling thousands of 16-ounce jars of its Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter Chunky because of possible salmonella contamination.

The Ohio-based company says the jars covered in the recall would
have been purchased in the last week or so. They have "Best if
Used By" dates of Aug. 3, 2012 and Aug. 4, 2012, plus the production codes 1307004 and 1308004.

Smucker says 3,000 jars are being recalled from stores. Another
16,000 had never left warehouses.

Salmonella is bacteria resulting in fever, cramps and diarrhea
that lasts for several days and can require hospitalization. Smucker says no illnesses have been reported.

The product was distributed in: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas,
Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)