Public health officials are asking residents to check their pantries to see if they have peanut butter that may be contaminated.

Fifteen cases of salmonella in North Carolina appear to be linked with peanut butter, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. No cases have been reported in Moore County.

But local grocery stores are removing some brands from the shelves.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising that jars of Peter Pan or Great Value (the Wal-Mart brand) peanut butter with product codes beginning with "2111" could be contaminated with Salmonella. Both of the brands are manufactured by Georgia-based ConAgra Foods.

"If that number begins with '2111,'" said Dr. Megan Davies, state epidemiologist, "then you should take action."

Brian Faulk, manager of Harris Teeter in Aberdeen, estimates the store pulled "a couple hundred" Peter Pan jars from its shelves Thursday. He doesn't know yet when the brand will be available for sale at the store.

"We're accepting all containers that people have, regardless of what (number it has)," Faulk said. "We're giving refunds on everything."

If anyone who gets sick after eating the peanut butter linked to the contamination within the past 10 days, he or she should seek medical care and save the peanut butter jar for public health authorities.

Most residents infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomachache within 12 to 72 hours after infection.

People who have not gotten sick should simply discard the peanut butter.

Jenny Powers of Seven Lakes bought a jar of Peter Pan beginning with 2111 at Lowes Foods in Pinehurst a few weeks ago.

"It just concerns me," Powers said, "because if I have it, then other people would have."

Carthage resident Kathy Webb said her children became sick recently after eating peanut butter before, but she's fairly certain that it was not from salmonella poisoning. She bought two jars of the "2111" Peter Pan brand from the Food Lion in Carthage

"All I know is that I've got that number," she said. "The people in Moore County need to know (the "2111" peanut butter) is here."

North Carolina is just one of 39 states where salmonella cases have been linked to peanut butter. Nearly 300 people across the country have fallen ill since August.

Katherine Evans can be reached at 693-2480 or by e-mail at kevans@thepilot.com.