Having a hard time finding your favorite peanut butter brand? Here’s why

If it’s not one thing that’s hard to find at the grocery store, it’s another.

From toilet paper and cleaning supplies to cat food and baby formula, manufacturers have dealt with ongoing disruptions for more than two years. Reasons vary from supply chain issues to high demand for certain products.

The latest item in short supply? Peanut butter. Across the nation and in central Pennsylvania, shoppers are encountering sporadic inventory.

Shortages of the sandwich and snack spread stem from a massive recall by Jif, one of the nation’s largest producers of peanut butter.

In late May, J. M. Smucker Co. voluntarily recalled about 50 types of creamy, crunchy and natural peanut butters due to potential Salmonella contamination. Sixteen illnesses across a dozen states have been connected to the recall, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

As a result, shoppers snapped up whatever brand of peanut butter they could find. Depending on where you shop, inventory and brands vary.

“The peanut butter section was certainly hit by the recall,” said Andrea Karns, vice president of sales and marketing for Karns Foods, based in Silver Spring Township. “Consumers have been shopping other brands. We have been fortunate that there has always been some variety on the shelf.”

Inventory has been noticeably spotty at some Giant grocery stores. Company spokeswoman Ashley Flower said the peanut butter shortages is similar to other products shoppers have encountered over the past two years.

“Due to ongoing strain on the supply chain and various issues being faced by manufacturers, we like other retailers, are experiencing challenges when it comes to product availability,” she said.

Flower stressed that while product is available, the situation is fluid and it is possible that a particular item may be unavailable.

“We continue to work closely with our supplier partners to secure product and get it on shelves as quickly as possible to meet the needs of our customers,” she said.

Fortunately, just as thoughts turn to back to school - and packed lunches - Jif is slowly returning to store shelves.

“With confidence in our food safety processes and the additional measures we have put in place, we are working as efficiently as possible to return our products to store shelves,” J.M. Smucker spokesman Frank Cirillo told The Minneapolis Star Tribune.