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Hormel Recalls Skippy Peanut Butter Over Metal Shavings Contamination

By Lindsay McCane
Published on: 01:30 PST, Oct 31, 2015

Hormel Foods Corp. announced on Thursday, October 29, that they would be issuing a voluntary recall of some Skippy peanut butter products in seven states over possible metal shavings contamination.

According to the press release, the company has recalled 153 cases, or 1,871 total pounds, of a single code date of Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread. During an in-line magnet check during a routine cleaning metal shavings were discovered, prompting the recall. The products were believed to have been distributed to Publix, Target and Walmart stores located in Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, and Arkansas

Rick Williamson, a Hormel Foods Corporation spokesman, said in the statement that the metal shavings were caused by an equipment malfunction. The machine has since been repaired, which will hopefully keep any further products from becoming contaminated.

“Only a very small amount of product was affected. Unfortunately, a pallet of product that was to be destroyed was inadvertently released,” Williamson told USA Today, according to AZCentral.

The metal shavings are very serious as “food borne objects that are greater than 7 mm (1/4 inch) in length can cause serious injuries such as severe choking with airway obstruction, gastrointestinal perforation or secondary infection.”

If someone inhales a foreign object, the Mayo Clinic explains what actions to take. If the person is forcefully coughing, do not interfere and encourage them to keep coughing. If the person’s condition worsens and their airway is blocked, there are steps you can follow to dislodge the object. First, give five back blows between the person’s shoulder blades with the palm of your hand. Then perform the Heimlich maneuver, which involves five abdominal thrusts. Finally, alternate the back blows and abdominal thrusts until the object loosens.

The release states that the recall is limited to the 16.3 ounce jars with a “Best If Used By” date of DEC1416LR1 with a package UPC code of 37600-10500, which can be found on the top of the lid. The distribution center accidentally sent the affected products to Publix, Target, and Walmart stores that are located in Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, and Arkansas. No other sizes or varieties are involved in the recall.

Hormel is urging customers who have purchased the recalled Skippy peanut butter products to return them to the store for a full refund or exchange. Customers can also contact Hormel Foods Customer Relations at 1-866-475-4779, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Time, excluding holidays.

“The company is issuing the recall to ensure that consumers are made aware of the potential hazard,” the press release reads. “No reports have been received to date of any consumer injuries or complaints.”

“This recall is being initiated out of an abundance of caution and with the knowledge of the US Food and Drug Administration,” the release continued.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, Dole Fresh Vegetables recently made the decision to voluntarily recall their bagged spinach after it was discovered that they may be contaminated with salmonella. Approximately 2,800 cases, which equals 33,600 bags, were affected in the recall. The recalled Dole spinach has the codes A27409B and A27409A stamped on it, with an Enjoy By date of October 15 and UPC 7143000976. The bags were distributed to Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

The recall was issued after a random sampling of spinach was tested at Dole’s facility in Springfield, Ohio, by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, Laboratory Division. The results of the test were positive for salmonella.

[Photo by Laurin Rinder / Shutterstock.com]

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