Giant Food Alerts Customers to Voluntary Recall of Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice Garden Vegetable Packages

LANDOVER, Md., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following notification from its supplier, Mars Food, Giant Food of Landover, Md. has removed from sale Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice Garden Vegetable packages. The product may contain milk, an undeclared allergen.

The following product is affected by this recall:
Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice Garden Vegetable, 4.7 oz., UPC 5480040778 with best before date of 08/12 and code dates of 133BA4RP06 or 133BB4RP06

To date, Giant Food has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. This product is safe to consume for individuals who do not suffer from a milk allergy. Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions or bring their purchase receipt to Giant Food for a full refund.

Symptoms of food allergies typically appear from within a few minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic. Allergic reactions can include: hives; flushed skin or rash; tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth; face, tongue, or lip swelling; vomiting and/or diarrhea; abdominal cramps; coughing or wheezing; dizziness and/or lightheadedness; swelling of the throat and vocal cords; difficulty breathing; loss of consciousness.

Customers looking for additional information on the recall may call Uncle Ben's consumer care line at 1-800-548-6253 or the Giant Food Customer Service line at 1-888-469-4426. Information is also available on the Giant Food Web site, at www.giantfood.com.

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• Uncle Ben's Recalled, Allergy Alert Issued For Milk (todayinfoodsafety.com)

PCTEST Lab Obtains PTCRB Accreditation

COLUMBIA, Md., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PCTEST Engineering Laboratory, Inc. (PCTEST Lab), a premier independent test laboratory for device manufacturers and carriers, announced today its approval as a PTCRB Certification testing facility.

PCTEST Lab has been approved as an E-UTRA accredited laboratory by the PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board) during this week's meeting in Baltimore, MD. Approval by the PTCRB Operators propels PCTEST Lab's leadership in 4G LTE testing and certification.

"PTCRB certification ensures GSM/WCDMA/LTE devices are compliant with the technical specifications as defined in the NAPRD (North American Permanent Reference Document) and Network Operator requirements," explained Steve Coston, PCTEST Lab's Conformance Technical Manager. "PTCRB-certified devices give North American operators confidence that the devices will not harm their network."

"True to our pioneering spirit, we are an established leader in LTE testing," said Randy Ortanez, the president and founder of PCTEST Lab. "Receiving PTCRB approval will enable device manufacturers and operators to accelerate their LTE deployment schedules in the North American market. This milestone is unprecedented as PCTEST is the first U.S. originated lab that received PTCRB accreditation. We are excited to be in the forefront of 4G LTE testing in North America."

S&R Foundation Announces 2011 S&R Washington Award Winners

BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The S&R Foundation, a non-profit organization created to encourage and stimulate scientific research and artistic endeavors among young individuals, today announced the winners of the 2011 S&R Washington Award. The S&R Washington Award was established to recognize talented young artists in the fields of fine arts, music, drama, dance, photography, and film who contribute to U.S.-Japanese understanding.

"It is with great pleasure and honor that we recognize this highly talented and inspiring group of young artists, and reward them for their dedication and achievements in the arts," said Dr. Sachiko Kuno, president of S&R Foundation.

The S&R Washington Award recipients for 2011 are:

Char Prescott – Grand Prize Winner Char Prescott is a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral cellist in New York City, N.Y. An active performer, Ms. Prescott has appeared as a soloist at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on several occasions, and has made solo appearances with the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, the Reston Chamber Symphony, the Barry Studio Orchestra, and the West Potomac Sinfonietta. Ms. Prescott received her Masters degree in 2011 from the Manhattan School of Music (MSM). Ms. Prescott resides in Alexandria, VA.

Ryo Yanagitani – A distinguished pianist, Ryo Yanagitani is considered one of Canada's most promising young concert artists, endowed twice by the Canadian Arts Council with a grant as an Emerging Artist. His most recent successes include winning the gold medal at the 10th Annual San Antonio International Piano Competition, the Dr. Luis Sigall International Piano competition inVina del Mar (Chile), and the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, and being named a laureate of the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition.

Shizuo Kuwahara – Born in Tokyo, Mr. Kuwahara is music director of the Symphony Orchestra Augusta in Augusta, GA, and is also the first prize winner of the prestigious Georg Solti International Conductors' Competition in Germany. A renowned conductor, Kuwahara has also won awards at many international conducting competitions, including the Malko International Conducting Competition, the Tokyo International Music Competition for Conducting, the Prokofiev International Conducting Completion and the Fitelberg International Competition.

Laura Eckelman – Ms. Laura Eckelman is a New York City-based lighting designer for theater, dance, opera, and other performance arts events. A magna cum laude graduate of Middlebury College, Ms. Eckelman's design work has garnered regional and national recognition for its subtlety, elegance and careful composition. Ms. Eckelman holds a Master of Fine Arts from theYale School of Drama.

The award recipients are selected by the Awards Committee and receive a $5,000 cash prize to further their artistic disciplines. In addition, the Awards Committee named Char Prescott as a Grand Prize winner. Ms. Prescott will receive an additional $5,000 and will be eligible to showcase her talents in a Foundation sponsored event.

Previous Grand Prize showcases supported by the Foundation have included debuts at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and the Terrace Theater at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

Several of these talented young artists will be performing at the S&R Foundation-hosted Concert Series at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Terrace Theater, in April 2012. This unique concert series, which is an official event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and is supported by the Embassy of Japan, will showcase seven world-class musicians during the National Cherry Blossom Festival's Centennial Celebration, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy exceptional presentations by Japanese artists.

Greater Baltimore Committee Announces Bridging the Gap Winners

BALTIMORE, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nine Baltimore-area companies and one individual have been named as winners of the 8th Annual Greater Baltimore Committee Bridging the Gap Awards.