Unilever Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in a Limited Number of Jars of "Ragu Pasta Sauce, Old World Style, Marinara"

Contact:
Jennifer Stalzer
201-894-7760

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --Englewood Cliffs, NJ -- December 13, 2006 ---Unilever of Englewood Cliffs, N.J. , in cooperation with the FDA, is voluntarily recalling "Ragu Pasta Sauce, Old World Style, Marinara", UPC # 3620000400, Best If Used By SEP20 2008, because it contains undeclared milk. The formula also contains ground beef.  The affected product is packaged in 1 lb 10 oz (26oz.) (737 g) glass bottles marked with UPC # 3620000400 located to the right side of the front label and Best If Used By date of SEP20 2008 located on the bottle cap. 

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.  The recall relates to one production code of "Ragu Pasta Sauce, Old World Style Marinara" and is limited to 1000 jars produced.  No other Ragu Sauce product is being recalled.  The company is working in cooperation with the FDA and is also issuing an alert through the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.

The affected "Ragu Pasta Sauce, Old World Style Marinara" was distributed to a limited number of customers located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.  Products were also distributed in the following cities: Poplar Bluff, Missouri; White Plains, New York; Marietta, Ohio; Union Town, Pennsylvania; Washington, Pennsylvania, and reached consumers through retail stores. The affected product is being recalled from consumers and retailer store shelves, back rooms and warehouses.

No adverse reactions have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after the company received a complaint from a retail store about the incorrect label and it was determined that product containing milk was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk in the ingredient list on the label.

Consumers who have purchased "Ragu Pasta Sauce, Old World Style, Marinara", UPC # 3620000400, Best If Used By SEP20 2008 are urged to discard it immediately and contact the company at 1-866-839-8138 for a full refund.