Peanut Butter Recall

Unilever United States, Inc. announced a limited recall of Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread today, saying that it may be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is 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, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

On a side note: if the “spread” part of this story caught your eye, like it did mine, here’s the deal . According to FDA guidelines, products with less than 95 percent peanuts can not be called “peanut butter” without the qualifying “spread.” According to Time.com, Skippy’s low-fat peanut butter “spread” lists corn syrup solids and sugar as its second and third ingredients. It may be lower in fat than regular peanut butter, but it’s still relatively high in carbs and sugar. For instance, while Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter has 16 g of total fat (including 3 g of saturated fat) and 7 g of total carbohydrates (including 3 g of sugar) per 2-tbsp serving, Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread has 12 g of total fat (including 2 g of saturated fat) and 15 g of total carbohydrates (including 4 g of sugar) per serving.

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But I digress (fake peanut butter does that to me). The product 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, is 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

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the FDA, and no other Skippy products are affected by the recall. To date, no illnesses related to this issue have been reported.

Also see: Salmonella Signs and Symptoms

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Cheryl H.

4:41PM PDT on Mar 25, 2012

As Luda states, peanuts contain an aflatoxin. I had heard of this long ago, and also that peanut butters made of Valencia peanuts don't contain this because they are grown in a drier climate where the toxin can't grow in the soil. Those types can be found in health food sections. I wouldn't buy PB that comes in a plastic container, or contains sugars or (yuck!) corn syrup. I like PB, but have switched to almond butter that I make in the food processor. It seems that more kids are allergic to PB, and the whole growing and processing system is questionable..

send a green star

Charli S.

12:11PM PDT on Mar 25, 2012

We create factories that are so big and buy foods from Who knows where......that we can't keep them from contaminating our food. Buy locally or make your own. Also have you seen the chemicals in the "brand" PB? Even their "natural" has tons of crap in it.

Marie S.

12:56AM PDT on Mar 25, 2012

thank-you, for sharing this!

Kenneth D.

11:43AM PDT on Mar 22, 2012

thanks

Teresa C.

7:35AM PDT on Mar 21, 2012

Thanks for the article!

Anna A.

3:36PM PDT on Mar 19, 2012

oh crap my brother ate some yesterday