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Chukar Cherry Company Announces Nationwide Recall of Products Containing Pistachios Because of Possible Health Risks

Contact:
Holly Oten
(800) 624-9544

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Prosser, WA (April 2, 2009) – Chukar Cherry Co. of Prosser, WA announced today that it is voluntarily recalling from nationwide distribution specific "best before" dates of Chukar brand and Norm Thompson brand packaged products containing pistachios from Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. sold directly to consumers or resellers due to potential contamination with the Salmonella organism. Chukar Cherry Co. has received no reports of illness related to their products containing pistachios; the company is issuing this recall as a precaution. This potential contamination is not related to the recent peanut/peanut butter recalls.

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.

This voluntary recall affects products containing shelled, roasted pistachios shipped on or after October 27, 2008. The packaged products were distributed throughout the United States via various retail outlets and gift shops as well as Chukar retail stores, mail order catalog, and internet store. Product was also sold in bulk in western Washington at REI, Ballard Market, Town & Country Market, and Central Market; in greater Chicago, IL and Troy, MI area Whole Foods; at Good Earth Natural Foods in Spearfish, SD and at Neuchatel Chocolates in New York, NY.

The affected products below may have been sold individually or as part of a gift basket:

Consumers should not consume these products and should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Please visit www.chukar.com/recall or call toll free (800) 624-9544 8am-5pm PST Monday-Friday for further information. No other code dates, package sizes or Chukar products are impacted.

This is the first ever recall for Chukar Cherry Company. Chukar Cherry Company has been selling fruit and nut energy snacks containing pistachios for over 20 years. Chukar Cherry Company is committed to quality products and consumer safety and is taking aggressive action to prevent the need for any future recalls of its products.

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