Dean Foods Issues Allergy Alert In 13 States & Recalls Dean's Country Charm & Reiter Brand Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.

FRANKLIN PARK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 1999--Dean Foods Company today initiated a voluntary recall of less than 10,000 gallons of Dean's Country Charm Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream and Reiter's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream. The recalled product, which was produced at the company's Belvidere, Illinois plant, contains cookie dough pieces having an egg ingredient that is not listed on the label's ingredient statement.

Individuals who have an allergy or other sensitivity to eggs could experience a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction, if they consume this product. Consumers who are not allergic to eggs are not affected and can consume the product without concern.

Included in the recall are all rectangular half-gallon sizes and round pint-size containers of Dean's Country Charm Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, distributed to various retailers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia and bearing the Plant Code 17-81. In addition, Reiter brand Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream in round pint-size containers bearing the Plant Code 17-81 was distributed in Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania and is included in the recall. No other Dean Foods or Reiter products are affected by the recall.

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Brand/Package size                 Plant Code/ Label Location
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Dean's Country Charm Chocolate     To the right of the Nutrition
Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream,       Facts description are the words:
1/2-gallon rectangular package               Distributed by
                                           Dean Foods Company
                                        Franklin Park, Illinois
                                              Plant 17-81
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Dean's Country Charm Chocolate     Under the Nutrition Facts listing
Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream,       are the words:
round pint containers                        Distributed by
                                           Dean Foods Company
                                        Franklin Park, Illinois
                                              Plant 17-81
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Reiter Chocolate Chip Cookie       Under the ingredient list are
Dough Ice Cream, round             the words:
pint containers                              Distributed by
                                              Reiter Dairy
                                              Akron, Ohio
                                              Plant 17-81
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The company has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of its plans for voluntary recall.

The company determined that the ingredient statement on the ice cream carton was not changed to declare the presence of egg when Dean Foods changed its supplier of cookie dough, and only products produced since late October 1998 are affected by the recall.

Eggs may be used as an ingredient in certain flavors of ice cream but, if present, must be listed in the ingredient statement printed on the carton. Even when eggs are present in trace quantities, they must be declared as an ingredient, since a small portion of the population is allergic to eggs.

To help consumers identify the product, Dean Foods has posted recall information on its website, which can be reached at www.deanfoods.com. In addition, it is providing a toll-free consumer inquiry telephone number: 1-800-395-7004. Consumers who are concerned about the presence of egg in the product may either return it to the retailer where it was purchased or dispose of it.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Dick Bailey, President and Chief Operating Officer, said, "Providing safe, wholesome food products to American consumers continues to be Dean Foods' single highest priority. The risk that even one consumer might experience an allergic reaction due to our product labeling is not acceptable, and that's why we're initiating today's voluntary recall. In addition, we are reviewing our internal procedures to assure that a similar situation does not recur."

Dean Foods Company is the nation's leading dairy processor and distributor, producing a full line of branded and private-label products, including fluid milk, ice cream and extended shelf-life products.