Setton International Foods, Inc. Clarifies Product and Identification Codes of Recalled Products

CONTACT:  BOB FAUTEUX (203) 938-3800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — COMMACK, NY (APRIL 27, 2009) – SETTON INTERNATIONAL FOODS, INC., TODAY ISSUED A CLARIFICATION TO ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS REGARDING THE PRODUCT AND IDENTIFICATION CODES FOR BULK AND PACKAGED PISTACHIO PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN PISTACHIOS MANUFACTURED BY SETTON PISTACHIO OF TERRA BELLA, INC. WHICH WERE RECALLED ON APRIL 3, 2009 AND APRIL 14, 2009 TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE COVERED PRODUCT AND IDENTIFICATION CODES.    THIS CLARIFICATION IS A RESULT OF SETTON PISTACHIO OF TERRA BELLA, INC.’S CLARIFICATION WHICH WAS ISSUED ON APRIL 20, 2009 WHICH SPECIFIED THAT A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE 2007 PISTACHIO CROP THAT WAS PACKAGED ALONGSIDE THE 2008 PISTACHIO CROP WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR EXPANDED VOLUNTARY RECALL ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 6, 2009 DUE TO POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION WITH THE SALMONELLA ORGANISM.

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.

SETTON INTERNATIONAL FOODS, INC.’S CLARIFICATION SPECIFICALLY CONCERNS THE ADDITIONAL RETAIL PACKAGED PRODUCTS REFLECTED IN THE BELOW TABLE.

RETAIL PACKAGED PRODUCTS

SETTON INTERNATIONAL FOODS, INC.’S CLARIFICATION ALSO CONCERNS THE BELOW ADDITIONAL PRODUCT CODES REFLECTED IN THE BELOW TABLE FOR PRODUCTS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

RETAIL PACKAGED PRODUCTS

BULK PACKAGED PRODUCTS

FOR BULK PACKAGES RECEIVED BY WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS, PRODUCTS SHIPPED AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 WITH EITHER “7” OR “8” AS THE 4TH DIGIT OF THE FMO NUMBER AND A LOT CODE (WHICH APPEARS BELOW OR NEXT TO THE FMO NUMBER) BEGINNING WITH THE FOLLOWING THREE NUMBERS REPRESENTING THE PACKAGED JULIAN DATES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL: 245 THROUGH 366 AND 001 THROUGH 084.  WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR STOCKS TO DETERMINE IF THEY HAVE ANY OF THE AFFECTED PRODUCTS ON HAND. 

IF ANY RECALLED PRODUCTS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER FIRMS THAT FURTHER MIXED, REPACKAGED OR DISTRIBUTED THE BULK PRODUCTS, THOSE CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THE RECALL AND SHOULD CONTACT THEIR FDA DISTRICT RECALL COORDINATOR (SEE WWW.FDA.GOV FOR LIST).

IF WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS DO HAVE PRODUCTS COVERED BY THE RECALL, THEY SHOULD DISCONTINUE DISTRIBUTING THEM AND CONTACT SETTON INTERNATIONAL FOODS, INC. AT 1-877-296-0060, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 AM TO 5 PM EDT TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RETURN OR APPROPRIATE DESTRUCTION OF THE AFFECTED PRODUCTS.     CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT CONSUME THESE PRODUCTS AND SHOULD RETURN THEM TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE.  CONSUMERS WITH QUESTIONS MAY CONTACT THE COMPANY AT 1-888-228-5719, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 AM TO 5 PM EDT.