SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (January 31, 2008) - Beginning in February 2008, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company will introduce peanuts to its manufacturing facility. As a result, the company has made changes to the ingredient statement on its product packaging as follows:

• For products that share a common line with peanuts, packaging will include the following allergen statement: “Manufactured on the same equipment that also makes products containing peanuts, tree nuts and milk.”

• For products that are not produced on shared peanut lines, packaging will include the following secondary allergen statement: “Made in a facility that uses peanuts and tree nuts.”

In addition, the company has modified the ingredient statement on all of its packaging to better highlight allergens within the ingredient statement. 

Consumers can access a complete summary of Allergy Information related to all Ghirardelli Chocolate products at http://www.ghirardelli.com/about/faq_products_allergy.aspx. 

Please continue to read all labels before every purchase for current allergen information. For more information, consumers can call the company email the company at consumerresponse@ghirardelli.lindt.com.

About The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is a manufacturer and marketer of premium chocolate products. Incorporated in 1852, Ghirardelli has an incredibly rich American history. As the country’s longest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer, Ghirardelli has established its position as America’s Premium Chocolate Company with more than 150 years of chocolate making experience. Ghirardelli’s product line includes its signature Squares™ chocolate, Intense Dark™ chocolate, and other chocolate confections, baking chocolate and beverages. These items are sold through select specialty stores, grocery stores, drug stores, mass merchandisers and department stores. In addition, Ghirardelli sells a line of premium chocolate, syrups and drinks for the Food Service channel. Ghirardelli currently owns and operates 11 retail stores in four states, including the original Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop located in San Francisco’s historic Ghirardelli Square. For more information about Ghirardelli, visit www.ghirardelli.com.