Skippy Peanut Butter Recall Issued March 4, 2011

Skippy peanut butter recall, and Skippy’s manufacturer, Unilever United States, Inc. announced on March 4, 2011 that it was issuing a limited recall of Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread, because it may have been contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (sometimes of which may be bloody in nature), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain and cramps. In some rare occurances, an infection with Salmonella may result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and even arthritis.

The recall for these products are being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). No other Skippy products are affected by this recall at this time.

The product described in this article 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.

The affected product, which is packaged in 16.3 oz plastic jars, and UPC and Best If Used By Dates are as follows:

* UPCs: 048001006812 and 048001006782 (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 (Stamped on the lid of the jar.)

To date, no illnesses related to this potential issue have been reported.

The recall was initiated as a result of a routine sampling program performed routinely by the company, which revealed that these finished products may contain the bacteria.

Consumers who have purchased Skippy Reduced Fat Peanut Butter Spread with the above UPCs and Best-If-Used-By-Dates are urged to discard the product immediately and call the company for a replacement coupon. Consumers can contact the company at 1-800-453-3432, which is operational 24 hours a day, for information on the recall. In addition, a consumer services representative is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM EST. Please check all your peanut butter jars top make sure that you don’t have any jars from this Skippy peanut butter recall!