Salmonella Update

Fitzgerald, Georgia – March 7, 2011 – American Blanching is closely following the investigation by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the latest salmonella recall involving peanut butter. 

Unilever announced a recall of Skippy Reduced Fat Peanut Butter Spread due to possible health risk limited to 6 Best-If-Used-By dates. See following link for more details. 

http://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls/ucm245897.htm

Subsequent to Friday March 4, 2011 American Blanching Company has not and did not manufacture or distribute any domestic Skippy Reduced Fat Peanut Butter Spread. 

We want to assure our customers that our products are safe. Customers having any questions or concerns should contact any of the following. 

Harold Conger                                  

Vice President Sales                             

941-473-9110                                     

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Joe Montgomery

Vice President Sales

704-904-6505

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Alan Milton 

QA Director 

229-423-4098 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             DATE:   March 4, 2011 

Media Contact: 

Anita Larsen 

201-894-7760 

Unilever Announces Recall of Skippy® Reduced Fat Peanut Butter Spread Due to Possible Health Risk 

                     Limited Recall of 6 Best-If-Used-By Dates 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 4, 2011, Englewood Cliffs, NJ – Unilever United States, Inc. today announced a limited recall of Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread, because it may be 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 (which may be bloody), 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. 

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

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 (Stamped on the lid of the jar.) 

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

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. 

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.

Statement by the American Peanut Council, 

Concerning Limited Recall of Skippy® Reduced Fat Peanut Butter 

Alexandria, VA (March 5, 2011) – It is our understanding that Unilever’s recall of Skippy® 

Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter 

Spread for six best-if-used-by date codes, for which no illnesses have been reported, was voluntarily initiated and is limited in scope. No other products are affected, and the American Peanut Council is confident that Unilever will carry out this recall in the most efficient and effective manner possible in cooperation with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). 

The American peanut industry works hard every day to ensure that we have the safest industry supply chain in the world. We take our food safety responsibilities very seriously, and while the industry realizes that there is no such thing as zero risk, that is exactly what we strive for. 

In recent years, the American peanut industry has increased its work in three major areas of food safety: Prevention, Mitigation, and Surveillance and Review. This three-tiered approach is very similar to the one that FDA has adopted in recent years. More specifically, we have: 

    -  Strengthened      and  expanded   the   industry’s Good     Manufacturing    Practices   (GMPs)    in  consultation with some of the world’s leading microbiologists and food scientists. 

    -  Commissioned scientific studies to ensure we are using the best practices to eliminate contaminants. 

    -  Conducted a baseline pathogen prevalence assessment in order to better understand risk. 

    -  Collaborated with FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide 

        food safety education and training to industry members. 

    -  Designed a special HACCP accredited food safety course for peanut processors in partnership with the University of Georgia’s Food Science Dept. 

Protecting public health is a top priority for our industry. The American Peanut Council strongly supports the increase in federal food safety oversight provided for in the Food Safety Modernization Act, and we will continue to work with FDA, health officials, academia and industry experts to further develop the industry’s food safety tools. 

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The American Peanut Council is a voluntary, private trade association that represents all segments of the American peanut industry. 

AMERICAN PEANUT COUNCIL                                        Media contact: Amy Philpott 

1500 King Street, Suite 301                                    Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Alexandria, VA 22314                                           Cell: 703-472-6615 

www.peanutsusa.com