To:               Health Commissioners, Environmental Health Directors, Nursing Directors, ODA Food Safety Specialist, and Other Interested Parties

Subject:        Recall Announcement  (ODA/ODH) 2001-14

Date:             April 16, 2001

PRIMO FOODS COMPANY (NABISCO), TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA M8V 1A3M IS RECALLING TWO VARIETIES OF PRIMO HEARTY SOUPS

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued their alert on 4/12/01 and they

are monitoring the effectiveness of this recall.  Listed below is additional

information regarding this recall:

1) PRODUCT: Primo Hearty Soups; canned, ready to serve soup in 19 oz. cans

   (1 lb. 3 oz., 539 g), 12 cans per case; Primo Foods Co., 2150 Lakeshore Blvd

   West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M8V 1A3; Product of Canada; the following are

   the only flavors affected:

•    a) Clam Chowder, UPC #55900-30568

•    b) Cream of Mushroom with Portabello Mushrooms, UPC #55900-30593

2) CODE: all lots of both flavors

3A) RECALLING FIRM: Primo Foods Company (Nabisco)

    2150 Lakeshore Blvd. West

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada M8V 1A3

3B) MANUFACTURER: Primo Foods Company (Nabisco)

    210 Wellington Street

    Exeter, Ontario, Canada N0M 1S2

3C) U.S. AGENT: Kraft Foods, Inc.

    Three Lakes Drive

    Northfield, IL 60093-2753

4) REASON FOR RECALL: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a Health

   Hazard Alert on 4/12/01, indicating that Primo Foods was warning the public

   not to consume the two listed varieties of Primo Hearty Soups since they may

   have been under-processed and there is a risk for the presence of bacteria

   that may be harmful, including the Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

   The firm has received several reports of gastro-intestinal illnesses.

   No reports of C. botulinum have been received.

5) VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE: 968 cases of clam chowder and 2,326

   cases of mushroom soup were distributed in the United States on 2000

   and 2001.

6) DISTRIBUTION PATTERN: The soup was shipped to eight wholesalers in New

   Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Rhode Island, Maine and Minnesota.

7) FIRM'S RECALL STRATEGY: Primo Foods/Nabisco Sales Representatives from

  Canada telephoned the direct accounts, including those in the U.S. on

  4/12/01, and faxed them Health Hazard Alert URGENT memos dated 4/12/01 for

  all code dates of the Primo Hearty Soups Clam Chowder and Primo Hearty Soups

  Cream of Mushroom with Portobello Mushrooms Soup due to under-processing.

  The accounts were instructed to place a hold on any of the product in their

  warehouses and remove it from the retail store shelves.  The account's

  Nabisco Sales representative will contact the account to make arrangements

  for the product disposition and credit.

  Consumers should dispose of the cans immediately, but should retain the

  labels for reimbursement by Primo Foods.  Consumers can contact the Consumer

  Response Centre at 1 (877) 554-3577, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (DST).

  Consumers can forward the original label directly to Primo Foods Company at

  2150 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, Ontario, M8V 1A3.