The Swiss Colony, Inc. Recalls Certain Products Containing In-Shell Pistachios

CONTACT: VANITA BAUMGARTNER 888-443-2913

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — MONROE, WI — APRIL 16, 2009 — THE SWISS COLONY, INC. OF MONROE, WI IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF THE PRODUCTS LISTED BELOW. THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL IS BEING CONDUCTED AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE IN-SHELL PISTACHIOS ARE BEING RECALLED BY SETTON PISTACHIO OF TERRA BELLA, INC. BECAUSE THEY MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA. SALMONELLA IS AN ORGANISM THAT 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. CERTAIN IN-SHELL PISTACHIO PRODUCTS, IDENTIFIED BELOW, ARE INVOLVED IN THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL.

IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, WE ARE DIRECTING OUR CUSTOMERS TO DISCARD IMMEDIATELY AND NOT TO CONSUME ANY PISTACHIOS FROM THE ABOVE LISTED ITEMS. THE MANUFACTURER OF VARIOUS IN-SHELL PISTACHIO PRODUCTS REPORTED POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION TO ITS SUPPLIERS, ONE OF WHICH NOTIFIED US OF THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTAMINATION OF CERTAIN IN-SHELL PISTACHIO PRODUCTS. ALL OF OUR PISTACHIO PRODUCTS ARE SUBJECTED TO STRICT SAFETY TESTING BY CERTIFIED, INDEPENDENT TESTING LABORATORIES AS PART OF OUR FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM. ALL LABORATORY TEST RESULTS OF THE SAMPLES FROM EACH LOT OF PISTACHIOS REVEALED NO CONTAMINATION. NO KNOWN ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DATE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PISTACHIO PRODUCTS BEING RECALLED. THESE PRODUCTS WERE DISTRIBUTED BEGINNING IN AUGUST OF 2008 UNTIL MARCH 31, 2009. IN THE FURTHER ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, THE SWISS COLONY HAS CEASED DISTRIBUTION OF ALL PISTACHIO PRODUCTS WHILE ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED RELATING TO SAFETY OF PISTACHIOS, AND WE CONTINUE TO FULLY COOPERATE WITH THE FDA AND OUR SUPPLIERS IN AN EFFORT TO DETERMINE WHAT PRECIPITATED THIS EVENT. WHILE WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OF OUR PRODUCTS WERE CONTAMINATED, WE HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THIS ACTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER SIMILAR RECALLS UNDER WAY AROUND THE COUNTRY. AS A SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES AND TO REDUCE POTENTIAL CONFUSION, WE HAVE A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.SWISSCOLONY.COM, TO A RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT THAT INCLUDES PICTURES OF THE SPECIFIC PACKS INVOLVED. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AT 1-800-991-4442 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM – MIDNIGHT CENTRAL TIME, MONDAY -FRIDAY.