CONTACT: TAMI SHARROW-GERO (413) 533-9261
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — CHICOPEE, MA — APRIL 9, 2009 — EVERSON DISTRIBUTING CO., INC. OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING WATTA MUNCH NATURAL PISTACHIOS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA, 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 RECALLED PRODUCTS ARE PACKAGED IN CLEAR PLASTIC PACKAGES WITH A PAPER HEADER LABEL APPLIED TO THE TOP OF THE PACKAGE, AND RANGE BETWEEN 2.25OZ TO 4.5OZ., UNDER THE WATTA MUNCH LABEL AS LISTED BELOW:
NATURAL PISTACHIOS, UPC 830140046053, 2.25OZ PACKAGES, WATTA MUNCH NATURAL PISTACHIOS, EXPIRATION DATES BETWEEN MAR 2009 TO APR 2010. NATURAL PISTACHIOS, UPC 830140066051, 4.5OZ PACKAGES, WATTA MUNCH NATURAL PISTACHIOS, EXPIRATION DATES BETWEEN MAR 2009 TO APR 2010.
WATTA MUNCH NATURAL PISTACHIOS ARE PACKED FOR PJ DISTRIBUTORS, LLC, HILLSBOROUGH, NJ AND DISTRIBUTED IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, THROUGH CONVENIENCE STORES, AND SUPERMARKETS. NO ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DATE. THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED IN RESPONSE TO A SERIES OF RECALLS COMING FROM SUPPLIERS WHO USED PRODUCTS COMING FROM SETTON PISTACHIO OF TERRA BELLA, INC. PLANT SHIPPED IN 2008. THE FDA IS INVESTIGATING AN OUTBREAK OF SALMONELLA TARGETED AT THAT PLANT DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. CONSUMERS THAT HAVE THIS PRODUCT SHOULD NOT CONSUME IT. THEY SHOULD DISCARD THE WATTA MUNCH PISTACHIOS BUT MAY TAKE THE PACKAGING BACK TO THE LOCATION OF PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND. CONSUMERS WITH QUESTIONS MAY CONTACT THE COMPANY AT 413-533-9261 FROM MONDAY – FRIDAY 8 AM TO 4PM EST. 280 NEW LUDLOW ROAD, CHICOPEE, MA 01020 TEL: 413-533-9261 FAX: 413-536-4564
 
PHOTO: PRODUCT LABELS
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