Simpson Sings Famous Jingle:
" Ask Any Mermaid You Happen to See . . . What’s the Best Tuna? Chicken of the Sea"

When "The Newlyweds" darling Jessica Simpson made a surprise visit to a staff meeting at Chicken of the Sea - to confirm once and for all, is it chicken or is it fish? - President and CEO Dennis Mussell presented the pop princess with a basket of Chicken of the Sea products and an apron. Simpson's response: "You do crab too?"

Pop princess Jessica Simpson surprised staff members at Chicken of the Sea's team meeting and confirmed the answer to her tuna faux pas that, in fact, the meat in the can is tuna, not chicken. After "The Newlyweds" darling exhausted her supply of autographed photos, she began signing cans of albacore and chunk light tuna for the delighted staff members.

SAN DIEGO – Oct. 21, 2003 – Pop princess Jessica Simpson surprised and delighted Chicken of the Sea’s staff with a guest appearance Monday, Oct. 20 to confirm the answer to the question she first asked while filming an episode of MTV’s "The Newlyweds," "Is it chicken or is it tuna?"

Most of America has seen, or heard about the episode in which Simpson, while eating out of a can of Chicken of the Sea, wonders whether the product inside the can is tuna or chicken.

The "Newlyweds" darling interrupted the company’s meeting this morning to ask her now infamous question, which Don George, senior vice president of marketing at Chicken of the Sea, gladly answered before giving an explanation of the company’s famous name.

"Back in 1914, when the company was known by another name, we were the first to can "light" tuna. So consumers would know to expect a mild-flavored white fish – that tasted similar to chicken – the company marketed it under the name Chicken of the Sea. It was such a success that the company eventually adopted the product name," George explained to Simpson.

Simpson, who appears eating out of a can of Chicken of the Sea in her newest music video, was presented with a basket of Chicken of the Sea tuna and trinkets, including an apron for the famous new homemaker.

George and the Chicken of the Sea team were meeting to discuss the launch of a new, chunkier, chunk light tuna, which will be available early next year. According to the U.S. Tuna Foundation, chunk light tuna accounts for more than 70 percent of all canned tuna sold.

According to George, research shows that consumers are unsatisfied with the piece size in the chunk light tuna products currently offered on grocery shelves. He said consumers interviewed preferred a firmer and chunkier texture more than flaky and mushy tuna.

"We hope Jessica will continue to enjoy Chicken of the Sea, and with the new chunkier chunk light, she and other consumers will get a firmer product with larger pieces for the same great taste and low price," said George.

The higher quality tuna, which was test marketed along the Eastern Seaboard this year, will be available nationwide in 3-ounce, 6-ounce and 12-ounce cans of Chicken of the Sea’s chunk light tuna in the first quarter of 2004.

Winner of the "Gold Medal Taste Award" from the American Culinary Institute, Chicken of the Sea is a seafood category leader providing a variety of canned seafood products, including tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, mackerel and sardines. The Chicken of the Sea brand and famous Mermaid icon are among the most recognized brands in America.