PUCKER UP AMERICA... STARKIST TEAMS UP WITH CELEBRITY CHEF SANDRA LEE TO LAUNCH ITS 'HAVE YOU BEEN STARKIST?™' HEALTH & HAPPINESS TOUR

PITTSBURGH, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- StarKist® will kick-off its "HAVE YOU BEEN STARKIST?™" HEALTH & HAPPINESS TOUR with celebrity chef and television personality Sandra Lee on June 3 in New York City.  Created to educate consumers about the health benefits of tuna, the tour will visit Tampa, Houston, Pittsburgh and Chicago throughout the month of June.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100602/NY14037A )

"Getting 'Kist is all about discovering the taste and health benefits of incorporating StarKist Tuna into your everyday life by using delicious and healthy recipes.  We wanted to use this tour to educate consumers about these benefits in a fun, light-hearted way," said Joe Tuza, SVP, Marketing and R&D.  "In addition, we are thrilled to partner with celebrity chef Sandra Lee to help us launch the tour.  She is passionate about creating delicious, simple mealtime solutions that feature easy-to-use products like StarKist."  

Sandra Lee will cut the ribbon on "Have You Been StarKist?" Health & Happiness Tour AirStream vehicle that will be located at parks and grocery stores during lunch time.  (For a schedule of locations and times, please see below and StarKist's Facebook page.)  The mobile tour, like the "Have You Been StarKist?" TV advertising campaign showing people making the "fish-kiss," will emphasize the health benefits of StarKist® Tuna while maintaining the same light-hearted, fun tone.

"Convenience can be healthful," explained Sandra Lee.  "When you know which ready-made star products to use, like StarKist, you can have a delicious, healthful meal in minutes.  Plus, the pouch is a perfect pantry space saver."

The tour, which will educate consumers about the many benefits that StarKist Tuna offers, will feature:

• "Fish-Kiss" Photo Booth – Where consumers will have the chance to make a "fish-kiss".  An email with the photo and message will be sent to the consumer and they will have the option to share/post the photo via Facebook.
• Memory Test – Consumers will have the opportunity to test their memory via touch screen memory game.
• Energy Test – A Wii Fit station will be set up for consumers to test their energy level
• Blood Pressure – A trained staff member will administer a blood pressure screening
• Body Composition – A trained staff member will measure participants' body composition including body fat, water, and lean tissue using a bioelectrical impedance analysis.  
• Product Sample and Recipe Booklet –  Upon completion of all the stations, the consumer will receive a free sample of a StarKist® Tuna pouch, a recipe booklet featuring summer-friendly recipes by StarKist and an opportunity to receive a trial issue of her Semi-Homemade Magazine.

Get 'Kist for a Cause

For every "fish-kiss" photo uploaded to StarKist's Facebook page from June 3rd through June 30th, StarKist® will donate $1 (with a maximum donation of $5,000) to Share Our Strength®, the leading organization working to ensure that no child goes hungry in America by connecting them with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives.  To learn more and donate, visit Strength.org.

Participants can also upload their "fish-kiss" to enter the StarKist Best Fish-Kiss Sweepstakes on Facebook for a chance to win one of three cash prizes.  Consumers can visit StarKist's Facebook page for full sweepstakes rules and information.

Get 'Kist for Your Health

Eating more tuna might just be the trick to making you a healthier, happier person.  It's a natural source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids that supports heart-health, promotes brain and eye health and may have a role in reducing symptoms of depression.

The Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in tuna are an important in reducing the risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends that Americans eat two servings of fish, like tuna, each week. Many studies have found that people who eat fish two or more times a week have lower rates of heart disease.

It only takes one taste to get 'Kist by StarKist, but tuna's good-for-you nutrients are sure to keep you coming back for more.  Tuna is an excellent source of protein and much lower in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol than many other protein choices. Tuna also has essential vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin D, Niacin, Vitamin B12 and Selenium.

Health & Happiness Tour Stops

June 3: New York City Launch (Madison Square Park)

June 9: Tampa, FL (Sunsets at Pier 60)

June 14: Houston, TX (Discovery Green)

June 20: Pittsburgh, PA (PNC Park)

June 24: Chicago, IL (Navy Pier)

About StarKist

StarKist Co. is a leading producer, distributor and marketer of shelf-stable and frozen seafood products in the United States.  A category leader in innovation, StarKist was the first brand to introduce the StarKist Flavor Fresh Pouch®; StarKist Tuna Creations®, a line of lightly marinated tuna; and, a dolphin-safe policy. As America's favorite tuna, StarKist represents a 65-year tradition of quality, innovation and consumer trust and is well known for its charismatic brand icon, Charlie® the Tuna, who swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961 and is still a fan favorite today. For more information on the Company, visit starkist.com. StarKist Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dongwon Group.

About Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade®  (www.sandralee.com)

Sandra Lee has a passion for simple solutions that create dramatic results in all areas of home life.  She is editor-in-chief of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine, the host of Sandra Lee Celebrates, a series of primetime specials on HGTV and two highly rated television shows on Food Network, the multi-Emmy-nominated Semi-Homemade Cooking and Sandra's Money Saving Meals.  Sandra Lee is also The New York Times bestselling author with twenty books including the much anticipated 2010 fall releases Semi-Homemade The Complete Cookbook and Semi-Homemade Comfort Food.

Sandra was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award for her involvement with many charitable and philanthropic organizations, as well as the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2009 by the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate for contributions made to society. Sandra is the national spokesperson for Share our Strength's Great American Bake Sale, a groundbreaking program focused on ending childhood hunger in America.  

About Share Our Strength (www.strength.org)

Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives.  Through its No Kid Hungry™ campaign--a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015--Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy meals on a budget, and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, both nationally and at the state level. Visit Strength.org to get involved in the No Kid Hungry campaign.

SOURCE StarKist Co.