Almost 300 people nationally have been infected with salmonella bacteria believed to have come from Peter Pan and Great Value brands of peanut butter, officials with the Food and Drug Administration said.

The affected jars have a product code on the lid that begins with the number “2111.” The affected jars are made by ConAgra in a single facility in Sylvester, Ga., the FDA said.

Several people contacted the Herald this morning to say they’ve purchased peanut butter with the 2111 code from the local Wal-Mart or H-E-B grocery store. No one has reported falling ill, however.

H-E-B officials have decided to remove all Peter Pan products from the shelves of their Texas stores, said Dya Campos, director of public affairs with the company.

“We’re doing this as a precaution,” Campos said. “This was not mandatory ... but it was important for customers to know that items on our shelves are safe.”

The action affects more than 300 H-E-B stores in Texas, she added.

Anyone with a suspect jar of Peter Pan peanut butter may bring it to the local H-E-B and exchange it for a free jar of Hill Country Fare peanut butter, Campos said.

Hill Country Fare brands are made at a different facility than the suspect brands.

The largest number of salmonella cases were reported in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri. Symptoms of salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331, ext. 234, or by e-mail at