Skippy Peanut Butter Recall Issued Due to Salmonella Risk

A sampling of some Skippy peanut butter products has revealed the presence of salmonella, leading to a recall in 16 states for Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk peanut butter spreads. 

The Skippy peanut butter recall was announced by the FDA and Unilever United States, Inc., the manufacturer. The products being pulled from the market were distributed to stores in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. To date, no cases of food poisoning from Skippy peanut butter have been reported.

The recall affects Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread sold in 16.3 oz plastic jars that have UPCs of 048001006812 and 048001006782 on the side of the label below the bar code. Best-if-used-by dates of MAY1612LR1, MAY1712LR1, MAY1812LR1, MAY1912LR1, MAY2012LR1 and MAY2112LR1 are stamped on the lids.

This could be the largest peanut butter recall since a massive recall in 2008-2009 by Peanut Corporation of America, which was linked to more than 700 illnesses and several deaths. Another recall was issued in 2007 for Peter Pan peanut butter, which was also linked to hundreds of salmonella illnesses nationwide.

Salmonella, also known as salmonellosis, is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States, producing symptoms like high fever, persistent diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, severe abdominal cramps and pain. The first symptoms usually begin to surface between 12 hours and 3 days after consuming the salmonella infected food.

The FDA recommends that consumers who have purchased the affected peanut butter spreads discard it immediately and contact Unilever at 1-800-453-3432 for a replacement coupon.