ConAgra Foods Announces Test Finds Salmonella in Its Peanut Butter.

OMAHA, Neb. -- ConAgra Foods announced today that testing by some states has detected the presence of Salmonella within samples of peanut butter manufactured in its Sylvester, GA plant.

"We are truly sorry for any harm that our peanut butter products may have caused," said Gary Rodkin, chief executive officer, ConAgra Foods. "Our immediate recall of 100% of our product was taken with the assumption that a link could be found between our peanut butter and the reported cases of Salmonella. We are committed to taking all reasonable steps to remedy the situation."

Rodkin continued, "We'd like to thank our consumers and customers for their understanding, as well as for the role they've played in ensuring public safety by returning and disposing the recalled product. We are also grateful for all of the hard work undertaken by FDA and CDC."

Background

On Feb. 14, the company voluntarily recalled all varieties of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter beginning with product code 2111 as well as individual packets of Peter Pan Peanut Butter found in foodservice venues... Since then, ConAgra Foods has been working with the FDA to identify any potential source of the food-borne illness salmonella in the product.

ConAgra Foods has authorized retailers to accept returns of open or unopened jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter or Great Value Peanut Butter marked with a product code beginning with 2111 for a full refund. Consumers should return peanut butter to the store where they bought it.

Alternatively, consumers can send their Peter Pan Peanut Butter or Great Value Peanut Butter lid or label with the product code beginning with 2111 to ConAgra Foods along with their name and mailing address for a full refund. That mailing address is ConAgra Foods, P.O. Box 3768, Omaha, NE 68103. It is not necessary to send samples of peanut butter through the mail.

If you have questions or concerns about your health, please contact your doctor. Consumers with questions or concerns about the recall can call the 24-hour toll-free hotline at 866-344-6970. For more information, please visit: www.conagrafoods.com/brands/peter_pan/index.jsp. For more information about salmonella, visit www.ific.org.

ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE:CAG) is one of North America's leading packaged food companies, serving grocery retailers, as well as restaurants and other foodservice establishments. Popular ConAgra Foods consumer brands include: Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, and many others. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.