Skippy® Peanut Butter Recall Issued Over Salmonella Scare

Unilever United States, Inc. just initiated a limited recall of Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced. No other Skippy® products are affected by this recall.

The Skippy® Peanut Butter recall was implemented over concerns that the products were contaminated with the Salmonella pathogen.

The recalled Skippy® Peanut Butter was distributed to retail outlets in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin and were packaged in 16.3-ounce plastic jars, is as follows:

• UPCs: 048001006812 and 048001006782. The UPCs are located on the side of the jar’s label below the bar code.

• Best-If-Used-By Dates: MAY1612LR1, MAY1712LR1, MAY1812LR1, MAY1912LR1, MAY2012LR1 and MAY2112LR1. These dates are stamped on the jar’s lid.

To date, no illnesses related to the Skippy® Peanut Butter recall have been reported; however, it is important to note that the symptoms of Salmonella poisoning do not always manifest immediately and can take some time to present themselves.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people infected with the Salmonella food poisoning pathogen usually experience symptoms beginning 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food or beverage.

The Skippy® Peanut Butter recall was initiated following a routine sampling program by Unilever United States Inc., which revealed that these finished products may contain the dangerous, sometimes fatal, Salmonella bacteria.

Consumers who have purchased Skippy® Reduced Fat Peanut Butter Spread with the UPCs and Best-If-Used-By-Dates indicated are urged to discard the product immediately and call Unilever United States Inc. for a replacement coupon. Unilever can be reached, toll-free 24 hours daily to obtain recall information, at 1.800.453.3432. Customer service representatives are available from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

Salmonella-contaminated food may not look or smell spoiled; however, consumption of food contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria may cause the foodborne illness known as Salmonellosis. Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning include fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea and usually last four to seven days. Most persons recover without antibiotic treatment; however, the diarrhea can be severe, and hospitalization may be required. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems may develop more serious illness with the infection potentially spreading from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites; this can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.