Gorant Candies, Voluntarily Recalls All Panned Chocolate Items Containing Whole Peanuts Because Of Possible Health Risk. Please Contact: Customer Service

Phone: 1-800-572-4139; email: Kris.Stephens@amgreetings.com or jack.peluse@amgreetings.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE– Youngstown, Ohio, February 10, 2009 -- On January 28, 2009, the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), which is the subject of an investigation by the FDA into a Salmonella outbreak at its Blakely, Georgia facility, expanded its initial voluntary recall to include whole, roasted peanuts purchased from PCA from January 1, 2007 through the date of the PCA recall in 2009.

In the wake of PCA’s expanded recall, Gorant Candies, Youngstown, Ohio is voluntarily recalling all lots of all panned chocolate items containing whole peanuts packaged under our private label(s) Gorant or Sweet Sentiments since January 1, 2007 because these products have a potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The items subject to this recall all contain whole, roasted peanuts covered in chocolate, including bridge mix containing chocolate covered peanuts. The chocolate may be milk, dark, milk no sugar added or dark no sugar added. The items can be found in any packaging configuration from bulk to retail packages. In our case, consumers may have purchased these recalled items from a wholesaler or retailer selling those items under our private label.

The specific items affected by the recall, all of which would have been purchased between January 1, 2007 and February 3, 2009, are as follows:

This recall does not include any Gorant Candies or Madelaine Chocolate products filled with peanut butter because we receive our peanut butter from sources other than PCA. The recall does not include any other Gorant or Madelaine products.

New product manufactured from peanuts from a new vendor will carry a key date that will represent new production after February 4, 2009.

Madelaine is the manufacturer for these products and tests lot samples of all its products for Salmonella, including its entire peanut products, and none of the peanut products affected by this recall has tested positive for Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date. Gorant is a wholesale customer of Madelaine for these recall products and remanufactures and distributes these items under our private label(s).

Madelaine is working closely with the National Confectioners’ Association to respond to developments in the wake of PCA’s expanded recall and Gorant Candies is working closely with Madelaine Chocolates to follow the FDA guidelines as well for recall.

Wholesale accounts are requested to follow these instructions and provide an accurate inventory of these recalled items on the form that accompanies this letter, sign it and return it to Gorant Candies. Gorant will issue a UPS call tag to have the product returned to us and Gorant will then issue a credit to our customers. (Form: Request for Call Tag (Word))

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products are urged to destroy them. Consumers with questions may contact Gorant Candies at 1-800-572-4139 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Gorant Candies, 8301 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44512