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ATTLEBORO - If you bought Peter Pan peanut butter locally - even if the jar has been on your shelf for months - checking the printed batch code on the lid might keep you from dangerous salmonella poisoning.

ConAgra, the manufacturer of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter, voluntarily recalled the products last week after the Food and Drug Administration linked the peanut butter to outbreaks in 39 states. The affected jars carry a product code beginning with the numbers 2111 on the lid.

But at least some of the jars seem to have found their way into the Attleboro area.

John Decker, a Bank Street resident, said he found one of the coded jars on his shelf after learning of the contamination through news reports. Decker said he believes he bought the jar some time ago at an Attleboro store, but does not remember which one.

"I thought people would want to know these jars have been in the area," Decker said. The FDA warning urged anyone who purchased the coded products since May 2006 to discard them.

Symptoms of illness called by salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In people with underlying health problems or weakened immune systems, salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.