Questions & answers regarding product recall at Kellogg
(updated February 19)

Kellogg is among more than 100 companies in the food industry who have recalled packages of peanut butter products after one of our ingredient suppliers issued a recall of its peanut paste.

As a retiree, you can be an important ambassador for the company and our brands in this situation.

Listed below are some tips for answering questions from family members and friends who are concerned about our company and the safety of the products we manufacture.

What should we say if asked about the situation?

• If asked about the situations by anyone, it's appropriate to let them know that Kellogg deeply regrets the situation and is taking immediate steps to remove recalled products from the marketplace.

• You can also reassure them that the company will continue to take the appropriate and necessary steps to proactively address this situation and rebuild confidence in these products.

• If asked about safety standards, you can reassure people that Kellogg has high food quality and safety standards that exceed what is required to do. This was an unfortunate situation of a supplier who breached the process.

• Because this issue is nationwide, very complex and continuously evolving, you should also direct people to the FDA website at FDA.gov for the most up-to-date information on the recall.

• Please do not speculate or give personal opinions on the issue as it relates to Kellogg or the overall situation.

• If you receive any questions from members of the media, the questions should be directed to the Kellogg Media Line at 269-961-3799.

• Additionally, you can direct consumers with questions or who would like a refund to the Kellogg Consumer Response Center at 877-869-5633.

As of February 17, what products have been recalled by Kellogg?

The following products were added to the recall on February 17:

• 12-ounce packages of Bear Naked All-Natural Peanut Butter Granola and Bear Naked All-Natural Peanut Butter Granola with Heavenly Chocolate with a "Better If Used Before" date prior to Feb 01, 2010 and the following bar codes on the package: 8-5641600100 and 8-5641600185.

The following products were added to the recall February 2:

• Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies [2.5-ounce size only, with a "Best If Used Before" date prior to June 30, 2009 (06 30 9)]
• Special K Protein Meal Bar, Honey Almond variety only [six- and eight-count packages with a "Best if Used Before" date prior to Feb. 1, 2010 (FEB 01 2010)]
• Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bars in Trail Mix and Honey Almond Flax varieties [7.4-ounce box with a "Best If Used Before" date prior to Sept. 19, 2009, and followed by the letters CD (SEP 19 2009 CD)]*
• Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bars Peanut Peanut Butter [7.4-ounce box with a "Best If Used Before" date prior to Aug. 8, 2009, and followed by the letters CD (AUG 08 2009 CD)]*
• Kashi TLC Chewy Cookies in Oatmeal Dark Chocolate, Happy Trail Mix and Oatmeal Raisin Flax varieties only (8.5-ounce box with a "Best If Used Before" date prior to July 30, 2009)*

The following products were added to the recall January 31:

• Bear Naked All-Natural Appalachian Trail Mix (with a "Better if Used Before" date prior to Feb. 1, 2010, and with the following bar codes on the package: 85641600187, 85641600141, 85641600174, 85641642518, 85641600189 and 88462343792)

The following products were recalled January 16:

• Austin Quality Foods Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter (all sizes and code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers (all sizes and code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter (all sizes and code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods PB & J Cracker Sandwiches (all sizes and code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods Super Snack Pack Sandwich Crackers (all code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers (all sizes)
• Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter (all sizes and code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers (all code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers (all code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods Cookie/Cracker Pack (all code dates)
• Austin Quality Foods Variety Pack (all code dates)
• Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers (all sizes and code dates)
• Keebler Toast & PB'nJ Flavored Sandwich Crackers (all sizes and code dates)
• Keebler Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers (all sizes and code dates)
• Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies (2.5-ounce; all code dates)
• Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies (2- and 3-ounce; all code dates)

What action should consumers who purchased one of the recalled products take?

Consumers with questions or who would like a refund may contact the appropriate Consumer Response Center:

• Kashi: 877-701-5868
• Bear Naked: 877-392-1660
• Kellogg/Keebler: 877-869-5633

Why did Kellogg issue the Jan. 16 product recall?

On Jan. 14, Kellogg had announced a precautionary hold on the sandwich crackers while the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and other authorities investigated possible salmonella issues at Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), one of Kellogg's peanut paste suppliers for these crackers. PCA had at that point recalled limited lots of peanut butter, which we did not use in our products, but we issued a hold while FDA did more investigation of PCA’s facility.

On Jan. 16, PCA expanded its earlier recall to also include peanut paste produced after July 1, 2008, which we did use in certain Austin and Keebler branded Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers and select snack-size packs of Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies, prompting Kellogg to immediately announce a recall of these products.

Why were select Kashi and Bear Naked products recalled Jan. 31?

This action was taken as a result of a further expansion of PCA’s earlier recalls to include all peanut ingredients produced in their Blakely, Ga., facility since Jan. 1, 2007.

Why were Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Special K Protein Meal Bar Honey Almond recalled Feb. 2?

This action was taken as a result of a further expansion of PCA's earlier recalls to include all peanut ingredients produced in their Blakely, Ga., facility since Jan. 1, 2007.

These products do not contain any peanut ingredients from PCA. However, they were produced at another company's facility on the same line as products that were made for other companies using potentially contaminated PCA ingredients. For that reason, this voluntary recall is being issued out of an abundance of caution.

Why did Kellogg recall Bear Naked All-Natural Peanut Butter Granola and Bear Naked All-Natural Peanut Butter Granola with Heavenly Chocolate on Feb. 17?

These products are being recalled as a precaution because they contain peanut pieces sourced from PCA's Plainview, Texas, plant. The peanut pieces have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. Texas state health officials have ordered the recall of all peanut products ever shipped from the Plainview facility.