M&M'S® News

January 29, 2009

Mars Snackfood US Products Not Impacted By FDA’s Expanded Recall of Peanut Butter Products

Hackettstown, NJ – January 29, 2009 – Mars Snackfood US today issued the following statement in reaction to the FDA’s expanded recall of peanut butter products produced at the Peanut Corporation of America’s Blakely, Georgia facility:

“Mars remains unaffected by the expanded recall of peanut products. All of our products are safe to enjoy. We do not receive or process any peanuts, peanut meal, peanut butter and peanut paste from Peanut Corporation of America, the company the FDA pinpointed as the source of contaminated product. We have not been asked by the FDA to recall any of our products as a result of the Peanut Corporation of America recall action.

At Mars, the majority of our products are manufactured using our own peanut butter made from our own roasted peanuts.

Food safety is of paramount importance to Mars, and we are committed to the highest standards of quality and safety. At Mars, we maintain a strict quality control program to ensure that our products leave our factories exceeding our high standards. Consumers can continue to have confidence in the quality of all Mars Snackfood products.”

The following Mars Snackfood US products contain peanut butter, none of which is sourced from Peanut Corporation of America, the company the FDA pinpointed by the FDA as the source of contamination:

• M&M'S® Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies
• SNICKERS® Brand
• SNICKERS® Brand Ice Cream
• TWIX® Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
• KUDOS® Peanut Butter Granola Bars
• Ethel M Chocolates® and ethel’s® chocolate lounge

About Mars Snackfood US:

Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack operations of Mars North America. With more than $7 billion in annual sales in the U.S., Mars North America includes food, snack and petcare segments, which are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Mount Olive, New Jersey, Mars North America employs more than 15,000 associates in the United States, with 72 facilities nationwide. Mars Snackfood US includes some of the world's favorite brands such as, M&M'S® Brand, SNICKERS® Brand, DOVE® Chocolate Brand, MILKY WAY® Brand, 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand, TWIX® Brand. Additional popular brands in the petcare and food segments for Mars North America include UNCLE BEN'S® Brand, PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs, and WHISKAS® Brand Food for Cats. Please visit mars.com.

Contact: Mark Broadhurst, (973) 691-3536 or mark.broadhurst@effem.com