MIDDLESEX, NJ - OCT 1 2007 -- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that all flavor manufacturers using real meat and poultry in their process operations now come under sole jurisdiction of USDA-FSIS.

Summit Hill® Flavors uses real meat and poultry in the manufacture of its “natural, clean-label” meat and poultry flavors, and we are now obligated to produce those flavors under USDA-FSIS inspection.  In addition, the labeling of all Summit Hill® meat and poultry flavors will be determined solely by USDA-FSIS. 

Summit Hill® will comply with this regulatory change and has been granted USDA inspection starting September 24, 2007.  Please note the following facts:

1. This regulatory change will not affect any Summit Hill® formulations.
2. This regulatory change will not affect current Summit Hill® vegetable, vegetarian, butter, seafood, and other specialty flavors, which will continue to be manufactured under FDA jurisdiction and labeled in accordance to 21 CFR 101.22.
   
3. Summit Hill® Flavors will be selling all current inventory of meat and poultry flavors until such inventory is depleted and replaced with USDA inspected product inventory.

Historically, meat and poultry flavors have not been considered by consumers as products of the meat and poultry industry.  Therefore, the question has come up relative to the use of Summit Hill® meat and poultry based flavors in a FDA product.  Traditionally, USDA has not mandated that the manufacturer of gravies, seasoning mixes, bouillons, bases, etc. come under their jurisdiction even if the product contains more than 2% cooked meat and poultry.

If you are using Summit Hill® meat and poultry flavors in FDA regulated food products, the change to our labels should not affect the regulatory status of your finished food product.  Labeling of flavors in your finished food product continues to be under FDA jurisdiction and subject to 21 CFR 101.22.

If you are using Summit Hill® meat and poultry flavors in finished food products under USDA inspection, our new USDA-FSIS labels will replace the PMC letters issued by USDA-FSIS.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding this information.

Sincerely,
Dwight Grenawalt
Vice President/General Manager

Contact:  Dwight Grenawalt
732-805-0335
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