Limited Number of Aunt Jemima Pancake and Waffle Mix Products Recalled for Possible Health Risk (March 4)

CONTACT: JAMIE STEIN, QUAKER OATS 312-821-2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — MARCH 4, 2008 – THE QUAKER OATS CO. ANNOUNCED THE PRODUCTS IN THE RECALL ARE A SMALL QUANTITY OF AUNT JEMIMA PANCAKE & WAFFLE MIX: ORIGINAL, ORIGINAL COMPLETE AND BUTTERMILK COMPLETE, WHICH MAY HAVE POTENTIAL SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION. NO OTHER AUNT JEMIMA, FROZEN AUNT JEMIMA OR QUAKER PRODUCTS ARE AFFECTED.

THE PRODUCTS, SOLD IN 2 POUND AND 5 POUND BOXES WITH BEST BEFORE DATES OF FEB 08 09 H THROUGH FEB 16 09 H STAMPED ON THE TOP, CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING UPC CODES:

30000 43272: AUNT JEMIMA BUTTERMILK COMPLETE, 5 LB. 30000 05040: AUNT JEMIMA ORIGINAL, 2 LB. 30000 05070: AUNT JEMIMA ORIGINAL COMPLETE, 2 LB. 30000 05300: AUNT JEMIMA BUTTERMILK COMPLETE, 2 LB.

SALMONELLA IS A FOOD BORNE ILLNESS 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.

NO ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS ISSUE TO DATE. THERE IS VERY LOW RISK OF ILLNESS WHEN PREPARATION DIRECTIONS ON BOX ARE FOLLOWED AND PRODUCT IS NOT CONSUMED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED. SALMONELLA BACTERIA IS KILLED AT A TEMPERATURE OF 160° F.

IF CONSUMERS HAVE THIS PRODUCT WITH THE INDICATED UPC CODES AND BEST BEFORE DATES, THEY SHOULD RETURN IT TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND. CONSUMERS WITH QUESTIONS MAY CONTACT THE COMPANY BY CALLING THE TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-407-2247 OR BY LOGGING ONTO WWW.AUNTJEMIMA.COM.

QUAKER IS IN THE PROCESS OF RECOVERING THE PRODUCT INVOLVED. QUAKER KNOWS SPECIFICALLY TO WHICH CUSTOMER WAREHOUSES THE PRODUCT WAS SHIPPED. APPROXIMATELY 98% OF THE PRODUCT IS WITHIN QUAKER’S CONTROL. THE 2% OF PRODUCT WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF QUAKER’S CONTROL WAS SHIPPED TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF RETAIL AND MASS MERCHANDISER STORES (NO DIRECT DISTRIBUTION TO WEST COAST). OF THAT SMALL QUANTITY, THE VAST MAJORITY LIKELY HAS NOT BEEN PLACED ON STORE SHELVES. PRODUCT WAS SHIPPED TO 17 STATES INCLUDING TEXAS, GEORGIA, ALABAMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, ILLINOIS, FLORIDA, MISSOURI, MINNESOTA, COLORADO, WISCONSIN, OHIO, NEW YORK, NEW MEXICO, KANSAS AND UTAH.