House of Flavors Expands Recall of Ice Cream

CONTACT: TOM WATKINS 231-845-7369 X 2229

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN (FEBRUARY 2, 2009) – HOUSE OF FLAVORS ICE CREAM COMPANY HAS ANNOUNCED AN UPDATE TO THEIR JANUARY 30, 2009 VOLUNTARY RECALL OF SELECT ICE CREAM PRODUCTS CONTAINING PEANUTS. HOUSE OF FLAVORS IS TAKING THESE MEASURES FOLLOWING AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE PEANUT INGREDIENT SUPPLIER PEANUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA (PCA) THAT ITS PRODUCTS MAY POSSIBLY BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA. SALMONELLA IS AN ORGANISM WHICH 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 ADDITIONAL HOUSE OF FLAVOR PRODUCTS INCLUDED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL ARE:

NO OTHER HOUSE OF FLAVORS PRODUCTS ARE IMPACTED BY THE RECALL AS THEY DO NOT CONTAIN ANY PEANUT BUTTER, PEANUT PASTE OR WHOLE PEANUT PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY PCA.

THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING AN ALLEGED SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION IN PEANUT BUTTER AND PEANUT PASTE PRODUCED AT PCA’S BLAKELY, GA. PLANT. THE EXPANDED RECALL OF PCA PRODUCTS NOW INCLUDES ALL PEANUTS AND PEANUT-RELATED PRODUCTS PRODUCED AT ITS PLANT FROM JANUARY 2007 TO PRESENT.

HOUSE OF FLAVORS HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY CONSUMER ILLNESS COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS PRODUCTS TO DATE. ALTHOUGH NONE OF HOUSE OF FLAVORS PRODUCTS HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH ANY CONSUMER ILLNESS COMPLAINTS, THE COMPANY IS VOLUNTARILY REMOVING ALL POTENTIALLY IMPACTED PRODUCTS FROM RETAIL STORE SHELVES AND THE ENTIRE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

CONSUMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THE RECALLED PRODUCTS SHOULD RETURN THEM TO THE STORE WHERE THEY WERE PURCHASED FOR A FULL REFUND. FOOD SERVICE ACCOUNTS WHO HAVE PURCHASED RECALLED PRODUCTS IN THREE-GALLON CONTAINERS SHOULD RETURN THEM TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WHERE THEY WERE PURCHASED FOR A FULL REFUND. ANYONE REQUIRING MORE INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT HOUSE OF FLAVORS CONSUMER AFFAIRS AT 1-800-930-7740 X 2229, M-F FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. EST.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SALMONELLA, PLEASE VISIT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION’S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV.