Peanut butter fans may want to “skip” eating Skippy’s reduced fat brands.

The New Jersey-based Unilever United States, Inc., the manufacturer of Skippy Peanut Butter products, is recalling two of its brands – Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread.

The food “may be contaminated with Salmonella,” the company said in a statement. “No other Skippy products are affected by this recall.”

Salmonella is a bacteria which can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness infects nearly 40,000 people in the United States each year, with symptoms that can last 4 to 7 days.

The possibly infected 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.

Anyone who purchased either peanut butter labels should look for the UPC codes 048001006812 and 048001006782, which are located on the side of the jar’s label. The recalled jars also have “best-if-used-by” dates of MAY1612LR1, MAY1712LR1, MAY1812LR1, MAY1912LR1, MAY2012LR1 or MAY2112LR1.

“The recall was initiated as the result of a routine sampling program by the company, which revealed that these finished products may contain the bacteria,” Unilever United States said.

Those who may have one of the potentially tainted products are urged to throw them away and contact the company at 1-800-453-3432 to obtain a replacement coupon.

No illnesses due to the Salmonella have been reported.

(Source: NY Daily News)