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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 15, 2006

NIELSEN-MASSEY(r) BECOMES FIRST MAJOR INGREDIENT SUPPLIER IN THE UNITED 
STATES TO RECEIVE INDEPENDENT GLUTEN-FREE CERTIFICATION

WAUKEGAN, IL (August 15, 2006), Nielsen-Massey(r), one of the world's leading 
purveyors of premium pure vanilla products and other fine extracts since 
1907, is the first extract company and ingredient supplier in the United States to 
be certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). Soon the 
GFCO's circle GF certification mark will be featured on Nielsen-Massey 
packaging. The new mark will give all Nielsen-Massey customers (retail consumers, 
product manufacturers, bakers, restaurateurs, and others) the assurance that 
Nielsen-Massey's fine vanillas and extracts are gluten-free.

"For many years now we have been responding to customer inquiries about 
whether our products are gluten-free," said Matt Nielsen, President of 
Nielsen-Massey(r). "Now, we are proud to be able to provide them with the confidence and 
safety assurance this new certification from GFCO provides. As a family-owned 
business, we have always placed our customers first, and this is one additional 
way to demonstrate our commitment to them."

"Nielsen-Massey has shown significant leadership by being the first major 
ingredient company to seek GFCO certification," added Cynthia Kupper, Executive 
Director of the Gluten Intolerance Group, the 501 (c)(3) organization that 
administers the GFCO program. "Consumers with gluten-sensitivity need to be sure 
that all ingredients in a product are gluten-free."

The GFCO is the first program of its kind in the world to supervise the 
manufacturing and testing protocol of companies that market gluten-free (GF) foods, 
for the purpose of offering consumers a third-party assurance of safety. This 
new independent food processing inspection program will verify that food 
products meet the highest standards for GF ingredients and are produced in a safe 
environment.

Food manufacturers have been quick to recognize the growing demand for GF 
foods. According to SPINS data, sales of GF products in mainstream grocery stores 
grew 18% from June 2004 to June 2005 and are likely to grow by over 10% each 
year for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the 2,800-plus GF products 
available in stores today produce annual sales topping $700 million. Although many 
more GF products have become available in the past few years, adhering to a 
GF diet remains difficult and frustrating, since gluten is so prevalent in 
processed foods. A great deal of time is required to read food labels, contact 
food manufacturers and search GF product lists. Consumers want a quick means to 
determine if a product is safe, and the GFCO provides exactly that.

About GFCO
The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is a program of the Gluten 
Intolerance Group(r), and is governed by an independent volunteer board that 
includes physicians, food scientists and consumers.

Key elements of the GFCO process include:
·Ingredients review, down to the original supplier
·Onsite inspections by experienced, trained Field Inspection Agents
·Product and ingredient testing using scientifically-proven tests
·GFCO certification mark located on product packages for easy identification. 


For more information and to see the products certified visit: 
http://www.gfco.org.

About Nielsen-Massey
Worldwide, Nielsen-Massey meets the demand for its pure vanilla products. Its 
corporate headquarters is located in Waukegan, Illinois, USA with ISO 
certified production facilities in both Waukegan and at Nielsen-Massey Vanillas 
International, LLC. in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Additionally, Nielsen-Massey is 
audited annually by the American Institute of Baking, from whom it has received 
Superior ratings each year since 1990. All Nielsen-Massey's vanilla products 
are Kosher certified and they have been a certified organic producer since 1998.

The Waukegan facility supplies vanilla products to North America, South 
America, Central America, and the Pacific Rim. And since 1995, the European 
facility has provided a cost-effective means of pure vanilla supply to the European, 
African and Middle Eastern markets. To help meet this need, Nielsen-Massey has 
18 global representatives in many countries to provide ongoing support and 
product information to customers.

As a family owned and managed business, Nielsen-Massey is committed to and 
truly cares about its customers. With this commitment comes a pledge to continue 
producing the world's finest Pure Vanillas batch after batch - a promise that 
has been kept for nearly a century.
For more information visit: www.nielsenmassey.com.


Cynthia Kupper, RD, CD
Executive Director
Gluten Intolerance Group of NA
15110 10th Ave SW, Ste A
Seattle WA 98166-1820
206-246-6652; F: 206-246-6531

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