News : Pepin Heights Orchards Apple Cider Advisory

LAKE CITY, Minn., January 6, 2012 – Pepin Heights Orchards is advising consumers to discard Pepin Heights brand Honeycrisp Apple Cider with a “Use By” date on the label of Feb 09 2012. The product was packaged in half-gallon plastic jugs and sold and distributed in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

This advisory is precautionary. No illnesses have been reported.

The advisory applies only to Honeycrisp cider with the “Use By” date of Feb 09 2012. No other batch of Honeycrisp cider or any other Pepin Heights Orchards products are included in the advisory.

Retailers and consumers with questions may call Pepin Heights at (800) 652-3779, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central Time. Consumers seeking a refund should mail the label from the front of the affected cider to: Pepin Heights Orchards, Attn: Cider Refund, 1753 South Hwy 61, Lake City, MN 55041.

The company issued the advisory in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Routine state tests indicated that samples of Pepin Heights Brand Honeycrisp Apple Cider with a “Use By” date of Feb 09 2012 may contain slightly elevated levels of patulin, which is a natural byproduct of several species of mold.

“We are issuing this advisory out of an abundance of caution,” said Chris Sandwick, Director of Sales and Marketing at Pepin Heights Orchards. “We take the safety of our consumers very seriously.”

While the short-term health effects of patulin have not been clearly established, and no illnesses have been attributed to patulin, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has identified long-term exposure as a potential concern.

Pepin Heights Orchards has invested heavily in state-of-the-art cider processing facilities. It also reviews and updates its safety processes annually and carefully follows its food safety plan, which is reviewed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and includes regular onsite inspections of Pepin Heights facilities and practices.