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Mrs. Crockett's Kitchens Issues Precautionary Recall for Some Potato Salad Products

NEWS RELEASE



Contact:  Wade Gates or Tom Reller
          (214) 528-6115

For Immediate Release

Fort Worth, TX - September 21, 2000 - Mrs. Crockett's Kitchens, Inc. issued today a voluntary product recall of certain potato salad products packaged under a variety of labels. The affected products may contain Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious or sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Only potato salad products with the expiration dates from October 3 to October 25 are covered in the precautionary recall; no other Mrs. Crockett's products are affected. The Company has received no complaints or reports of illness associated with the products and has retained an independent scientific consulting firm to conduct a complete review of the manufacturing facility. Normal production of potato salad products will be restarted soon once corrective actions are completed.

The affected products were distributed in 37 U.S. states - and, through one distributor, in Mexico - to several grocery store chains and other outlets under a variety of labels. (A complete list is attached) At the retail level, potato salads are packed in portion-pak and in one-, two- and three-pound plastic containers with an expiration date between October 3 to October 25 under a number of brands. At the wholesale and distributor level, the recall includes certain potato salads packed in five- and ten-pound bulk containers with expiration dates between October 3 and October 25.

Consumers are asked to either dispose of the potato salad or return it to the retailer where it was purchased. Consumers who are uncertain about the source of their deli or restaurant potato salad should ask the restaurant or deli for the brand name. A complete listing of the affected products is available by calling a special consumer line at 1-888-578-7707 or by Internet website at www.pressevent.com/recall.

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