A message signed by Ron Foster, president and CEO of Foster Farms, apologized for the salmonella illnesses associated with Foster Farms chicken products. The outbreak triggered a USDA health alert on Oct. 7. The ad also said the company has fixed the problem and strengthened its food safety programs.
"The whole issue of what they're doing, to me, it's healthy. It's sort of like when you're in a marriage and all of a sudden you do something to offend your spouse, you say hey, I'm sorry," Dr. Bill Rice said.
Foster Farms has reported a 25 percent drop in sales since its products were linked to nearly 400 illnesses nationwide. Fresno State marketing professor Dr. Bill Rice said that equates to millions of dollars and the company could lose millions more if it fails to ease the fears of consumers.
"They have to do that, they have to say yeah we were guilty of something that happened, but we've corrected that but please give us a second chance," Dr. Rice said.
There are two Foster Farms plants in Fresno and another in Livingston. Rice said the local and state economy depend on their rebound.
"We're talking about hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of job this will have a major ripple economically here in California," Dr. Rice said.
In the full page newspaper ad the company's president of also says he looks forward to sharing more about the commitment to food safety in the coming days and weeks. Customers can visit fosterfarms.com for more information.
