News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE:
 July 22, 2008
CONTACT: Katie McKenna
kmckenna@topsmarkets.com

   
TOPS MARKETS REMOVES FRESH JALAPENO, SORRANO PEPPERS AND FRESH SALSA FROM SALE AS PRECAUTIONARY MEAS
Williamsville, NY – Due to a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory that all consumers should "avoid eating raw jalapeño peppers or products containing raw jalapeño peppers,” Tops Markets has taken the precautionary measure to pull both jalapeño and sorrano peppers from sale. This recommendation does not include cooked, pickled, or processed jalapenos.

The (FDA) announced, Monday, that one jalapeño pepper sample obtained during an FDA inspection at a produce distribution center, Agricola Zaragoza, in McAllen, Texas is a positive genetic match with the Salmonella Saintpaul strain causing the current Salmonella outbreak. The pepper was grown on a farm in Mexico.

The jalapeño and sorrano Peppers sold at Tops Markets are grown in New Jersey and are not from Agricola Zaragoza.. Tops is removing these products from sale as a precautionary measure and until the FDA gives further instruction to retailers and consumers.

Tops has also pulled from sale its Fresh Salsa due to the fact that the hot variety contains sorrano peppers, and therefore could be connected to the FDA advisory.

Tops Markets, LLC, is headquartered in Williamsville, NY and operates 71 full-service supermarkets and five franchise supermarkets. With over 10,000 associates, Tops is the leading full-service grocery retailer in Western New York, Central New York, including Rochester, and Northwestern Pennsylvania. For more information about Tops Markets, visit the company's Web site at www.topsmarkets.com

 

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