Cheryl and Co. Recalls Select Peanut Butter Peanut Cookie and Dough Products

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — WESTERVILLE, OHIO. – FEBRUARY 9, 2009 – CHERYL & CO. TODAY ANNOUNCED IT IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING A LIMITED AND IDENTIFIABLE NUMBER OF CHERYL & CO. PEANUT STYLE COOKIES AND COOKIE DOUGH PRODUCTS PRODUCED PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN PEANUTS FROM PEANUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA (PCA). PCA – A PEANUT PROCESSING COMPANY AND MAKER OF PEANUT BUTTER FOR BULK DISTRIBUTION TO THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY AND PRIVATE LABEL FOOD COMPANIES – 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.   WE ARE UNDERTAKING THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. CHERYL & CO. HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REPORTS OF ILLNESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AFFECTED PRODUCTS.

THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT ANY OF OUR PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES OR COOKIE DOUGH PRODUCTS PRODUCED AFTER SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 NOR ANY OTHER PRODUCTS FROM CHERYL & CO., BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN PRODUCTS FROM PCA.

THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS AND DATE CODE NUMBERS FOR THE RECALLED PRODUCTS ARE LISTED BELOW, AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE AT OUR WEBSITE LOCATED AT HTTP://WWW.CHERYLANDCO.COM TO HELP WITH IDENTIFICATION.

ANY OF THE ABOVE IDENTIFIED PRODUCTS RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM CHERYL & CO. THAT WERE PRODUCED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 ARE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL PROGRAM.  ANY OF THE ABOVE IDENTIFIED PRODUCTS THAT WERE PRODUCED AFTER SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 ARE SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION AND NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN PRODUCTS FROM PCA.

ALTHOUGH CHERYL & CO. HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REPORTS OF ILLNESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AFFECTED PRODUCTS, 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.

CHERYL & CO. 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 CHERYL & CO. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-443-8124 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:30 A.M.–5 P.M. MONDAY – FRIDAY EST.