The Popcorn Factory, Inc. Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Select Popcorn Products Containing Peanut Seasonings

CONTACT: JOSEPH PITITTO PHONE: (516) 237-6131

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — LAKE FOREST, ILL. – FEBRUARY 6, 2009 – THE POPCORN FACTORY, INC. TODAY ANNOUNCED IT IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING ITS CHEF INSPIRED “ULTIMATE GIFT TIN” AND “THAI PEANUT POPCORN” RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM THE POPCORN FACTORY PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 5, 2009 BECAUSE THE PEANUT SEASONING MIX – SUPPLIED BY BARON’S SPECIALTY FOODS OF MARTINEZ, CA – MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS FROM PEANUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA (PCA). PCA HAS ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL COVERING ALL PEANUT PRODUCTS MADE IN THEIR BLAKELY, GEORGIA PLANT SINCE JAN. 1, 2007, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A POTENTIAL TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA.

RECENTLY, BARON’S SPECIALTY FOODS RECALLED THE PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS SUPPLIED BY PCA.

WE ARE UNDERTAKING THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. THE POPCORN FACTORY HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS OF ILLNESS CONNECTED TO THESE PRODUCTS.

THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT ANY OF OUR PEANUT POPCORN PRODUCTS SOLD AFTER FEBRUARY 5, 2009 NOR ANY OTHER PRODUCTS FROM THE POPCORN FACTORY, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN PRODUCTS FROM PCA.

THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS AND STOCK CODE NUMBERS FOR THE RECALLED PRODUCTS ARE LISTED BELOW, AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.THEPOPCORNFACTORY.COM TO HELP WITH IDENTIFICATION.

NOTE: THERE ARE NO UPC NUMBER FOR THESE PRODUCTS THE PRODUCT OUTER PACKAGING IS CODED WITH THE PART OR STOCK NUMBER AND A DATE CODE.  ANY DATE CODES OF 09002 OR ANY CODE BEGINNING WITH 08 ARE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL PROGRAM.  ANY OF THE ABOVE IDENTIFIED PRODUCTS RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM THE POPCORN FACTORY BEFORE FEBRUARY 5, 2009 ARE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL PROGRAM.  ANY OF THE ABOVE IDENTIFIED PRODUCTS RECEIVED AFTER FEBRUARY 5, 2009 ARE SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION AND NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN PRODUCTS FROM PCA.

THE POPCORN PRODUCT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL IS A PREMIUM CARAMEL BASED RECIPE THAT IS COOKED TO A TEMPERATURE IN EXCESS OF 290 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT; THIS STEP IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS IS BELIEVED TO DESTROY ANY KNOWN PATHOGENS.  HOWEVER, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR GIFT RECIPIENTS, WE ASK THAT YOU DISCARD AND NOT RETURN ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED RECALLED PRODUCTS STILL REMAINING IN YOUR POSSESSION.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PCA RECALL, VISIT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.FDA.GOV.

THE POPCORN FACTORY, INC. APOLOGIZES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR GIFT RECIPIENTS; PRODUCT QUALITY AND CONSUMER SAFETY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE TOP PRIORITY OF OUR COMPANY.

CONSUMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THE RECALLED PRODUCTS ARE URGED TO DISCARD THEM.  CONSUMERS WITH QUESTIONS MAY CONTACT THE POPCORN FACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-854-4498 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:30 A.M.–5 P.M. MONDAY – FRIDAY CST.