Setton International Foods, Inc. Recalls Several Lots of Pistachio Kernel Products Because of Possible Health Risk (April 3)

CONTACT: BOB FAUTEUX (203) 938-3800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — COMMACK, NY (APRIL 3, 2009) – SETTON INTERNATIONAL FOODS, INC., AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING SEVERAL OF ITS ROASTED SHELLED PISTACHIO NUT PRODUCTS LISTED BELOW THAT CONTAIN PISTACHIOS MANUFACTURED BY SETTON PISTACHIO OF TERRA BELLA, INC.

ON MARCH 30, 2009, SETTON PISTACHIO OF TERRA BELLA, INC. ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING SPECIFIC LOTS OF BULK ROASTED SHELLED AND BULK ROASTED IN SHELL PISTACHIOS DUE TO POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION WITH THE SALMONELLA ORGANISM. THE PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL WERE PURCHASED FROM SETTON PISTACHIO OF TERRA BELLA, INC. THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL IS NOT IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE RECENT RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH PEANUTS OR PEANUT BUTTER. THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL IS NOT IN ANY WAY RELATED TO ANY INSPECTION CONDUCTED BY NEW YORK STATE OR THE UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.

SALMONELLA 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 FOLLOWING BULK ITEMS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING STATES: WI, IL, NY, CT, UT, MN, NJ, VT, FL, MA, PA, CA, MI, NV, MO, TX, MD, OH & CANADA.

THE FOLLOWING PACKAGED ITEMS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING STATES: WI, NY, MA, MD, FL, NJ, RI, IL, LA, PA, MN, OH, MI, CT, DE, CO, TX, CANADA & PANAMA.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONFIRMED CASES OF SALMONELLOSIS IN CONNECTION WITH THESE PRODUCTS. NO OTHER SETTON INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTS INCLUDING IN SHELL PISTACHIOS AND THOSE CONTAINING PISTACHIOS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.

SETTON INTERNATIONAL FOODS, INC. IS INITIATING RECALL NOTICES TO OUR ACCOUNTS WHO RECEIVED ANY OF THE ABOVE RECALLED PRODUCTS WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR RETURNING OR DESTROYING THE RECALLED PRODUCTS AND FOR NOTIFYING THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THE RECALL.

CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT CONSUME THESE PRODUCTS AND SHOULD RETURN THEM TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE. CONSUMERS WITH QUESTIONS MAY CONTACT THE COMPANY AT (888) 228-5719, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 AM TO ­5 PM EDT.