Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The J. M. Smucker Company Announces Coffee Price Increases

/PRNewswire/ -- The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) announced today that it increased the list price for the majority of its coffee products sold in the United States, primarily consisting of items sold under the Folgers®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Millstone®, and Folgers® Gourmet Selections® brand names. Prices will increase an average of 11 percent on impacted items.

The increase in price is driven by sustained increases in green coffee costs. The Company is currently in its quarter-end quiet period and, therefore, will answer investor related follow up questions during its June 9, 2011, fiscal fourth quarter earnings conference call.

Dunkin' Donuts® brand is licensed to The J. M. Smucker Company for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and drug stores. This press release does not pertain to Dunkin' Donuts® coffee or other products for sale in Dunkin' Donuts® restaurants.

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Consumers Warned to Avoid Eating Oysters From Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Florida

/PRNewswire-/ -- The following is being released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

Fast Facts

* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers, restaurant operators, commercial shippers and processors of shellfish not to eat, serve, purchase, sell or ship oysters from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Fla. because the oysters may be contaminated with toxigenic Vibrio cholerae serogroup O75.
* Nine persons have been reported with illness. For eight, the illness was confirmed as caused by toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75; laboratory confirmation is pending in the other person. No one was hospitalized or died.
* All ill persons reported consumption of raw or lightly steamed oysters.
* Traceback indicates that oysters harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Fla., between March 21 and April 6, 2011, are associated with illness.
* Those who have recently purchased oysters should check with the place of purchase and ask if they were harvested from the affected growing area.


What is the problem?

Raw oysters harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Fla. between March 21 and April 6, 2011, have been linked to eight confirmed and one possible case of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75 infection. The ill persons ate raw or lightly cooked oysters harvested from that area. Ill persons reside in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Indiana; all report consumption of oysters while in Florida. There are several designated harvest areas within Apalachicola Bay, Fla., and each of these has a unique numerical identifier. Area 1642 is a zone that stretches from north to south in Apalachicola Bay just on the east side of the bridge that goes from Eastpoint, Fla., to St. George Island, Fla. The zone is approximately two miles wide from east to west.

What are the symptoms of Vibrio illness?

Illness is typically characterized by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms begin from a few hours up to five days after consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, particularly shellfish, or after ingestion of surface waters.

Who is at risk?

Persons at risk are those who traveled to Florida and consumed oysters that were harvested from Area 1642 of Apalachicola Bay or who purchased oysters in a state to which these oysters or oyster product were distributed and ate them.

What do consumers need to do?

Those who have recently purchased oysters should check with the place of purchase and ask if they were harvested from the affected growing area. If the oysters were definitely or possibly harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Fla., and have not yet been consumed, they should not be eaten. If the oysters were already consumed and no one became ill, no action is needed. If you develop a diarrheal illness within a week after consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, see your healthcare provider and inform the provider about this exposure.

Those with weakened immune systems, including people affected by AIDS, chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach, or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease should avoid eating raw oysters, regardless of where they are harvested.

What product forms are included in the recall?

This advisory, which comes from an outbreak of illness caused by toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75, applies to live in-shell and shucked fresh or frozen oysters from the area.

Where is it distributed?

These oysters or oyster product were initially distributed in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina. However, subsequent distribution to other states may have occurred.

What is being done about the problem?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers, restaurant operators, commercial shippers and processors of shellfish not to eat, serve, purchase, sell or ship oysters harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Florida because the oysters may be contaminated with toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Aquaculture closed Area 1642 on April 29 and has asked commercial oyster harvesters and dealers who obtained oysters from this area to recall them.

The FDA is sampling oysters from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay as part of a reopening strategy.

Who should be contacted?

The FDA encourages consumers with questions about seafood safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD or to write to consumer@fda.gov .

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Monday, May 9, 2011

Dare to Compare in Arby's® Chicken Salad Taste-Off

/PRNewswire/ -- In years past, Americans have faced off in cola wars and burger battles, but few would have guessed that chicken salad could stir up a similar passion. Summer 2011 is poised to be the season of this sumptuous salad, and Arby's is confident that its Market Fresh® Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich and Wrap are the best in the business. From May 9-22, Arby's will offer consumers a chance to try its sandwich or wrap free, with the purchase of any 22 oz. beverage.* People can then dare to compare Arby's Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich and Wrap to the Subway® Orchard Chicken Salad sub and cast a vote for their favorite at www.facebook.com/arbys.

To encourage voter participation, for every vote cast, Arby's will donate $1, up to a total of $25,000, to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign, a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

"The Arby's Chicken Salad Taste-Off is on, and we're so confident in the taste of our Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich and Wrap, that we're giving consumers one to try for themselves," said Chef Brian Kolodziej, vice president, product development, Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. "This friendly game of chicken is for a good cause, and we're proud to be able to support Share Our Strength in its fight against childhood hunger."

Arby's Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad is freshly prepared daily in-store, and starts with 100% whole chicken breast, marinated and grilled to seal in the juices and add flavor, and hand-diced fresh produce, including crisp red apples, celery, juicy red grapes and crunchy pecans. The chicken salad ingredients are blended with mayonnaise and served on either honey wheat Market Fresh bread or Arby's new, whole-grain flatbread wrap, both of which earned the Whole Grain Council's stamp of approval. Arby's new wrap contains 23 grams of whole grains, or nearly half of the daily minimum of whole grains, while the honey wheat bread offers a significant 18 grams of whole grains. The sandwich and wrap are available nationwide through mid-August.

To participate in Arby's Chicken Salad Taste-Off:

* "Like" Arby's on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/arbys) and print a coupon for a free Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich or Wrap with the purchase of any 22 oz. beverage
* Compare Arby's Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich or Wrap to the competition, then
* Return to Arby's Facebook page by May 22 and cast a vote for the best tasting Chicken Salad Sandwich


Arby's will announce the outcome of the vote on May 23.

For more information about Arby's Chicken Salad Taste-Off, please visit http://www.facebook.com/arbys.

*Available at participating Arby's locations. The offer is valid only with coupon, one coupon per customer, while supplies last.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Flowers Foods Issues Voluntary Recall on Certain English Muffins and One Bread Item

/PRNewswire/ -- Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO) today announces that, out of an abundance of caution, it is voluntarily recalling the products listed below with the following best by date codes: May 11th 0355 119 and May 12th 0355 120.

Cobblestone Mill 16 oz 100% Whole Wheat Bread UPC 0 72250 04171 3

Natural Grains Honey Wheat English Muffins UPC 0 73105 92029 0

Nature's Own Light Multi Grain English Muffins UPC 0 72250 00377 3

Nature's Own 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins UPC 0 72250 00376 6

Nature's Own Honey Wheat English Muffins UPC 0 72250 00876 1

Sweetbay 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins UPC 0 99614 64218 8

These products, in packages with the codes noted, may contain small pieces of metal. No injuries have been reported.

The affected product may involve the following states--Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia -- as well as the following areas: Southern California, southwest Colorado, southern Illinois, southeastern Kansas, south and central Nevada, southern New Jersey, southern Ohio, southern Pennsylvania, and extreme southwestern Utah.

The majority of the product involved was still in Flowers' possession and has been pulled from the company's distribution system. As an extra precaution, Flowers issued the voluntary recall and is proceeding to retrieve all affected product from the market. Grocers are advised to withdraw these products for sale and hold it for pickup by the company.

Consumers are urged to return these products with the best by date/UPC codes noted to the place of purchase for product replacement or refund. Consumers with questions may contact Flowers' Consumer Relations Center at 1-866-245-8921.

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